Vox Souley's Tumblings

Newsletter/Blog Post Nov 2024 I advise students at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, this is written mostly to them, but it’s got guidance and commentary that could apply to other students or young professionals interested in trade and development. I’ve been struggling with how to think about the recent US Presidential Election. Those of you on the WhatsApp groups…

OK, I was curious – I asked ChatGPT, the new AI that everyone is talking about: Q: Can you write me a 750 word essay about why Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world? Response: Sure! Here is a 750-word essay about why Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world: Niger is a country located in West Africa and is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. The poverty…

This is a tribute to our dear friend Carol Roberts, who has managed an Improv Comedy group for kids on the Autism spectrum in our community for the last several years, she’s called it “Accidental Social Skills”. She’s moving back to Rochester to be closer to family, and we wanted to write something for her. I’ll post this to the “Ellie’s Voice” part of this blog as well. Our daughter has always…

It’s an interesting time right now and I have some thoughts. The theme of my thought train is the end of eras, maybe even kind of defining eras for me, in a way. Hopefully this emerges while I write this.  So my 2nd daughter Katie turns 15 on Saturday. The day she was born, I was starting my MPA in Monterey. For me that was an era where I was deeply committed to working in international…

Kate Warren DevEx Interview, 20 April

I was able to get a few minutes of Kate Warren’s time recently. Kate Warrenis the Executive VP of DevEx. When I was hired in early 2008 into my first non-Peace Corps international development job after my MPA at MIIS, Kate was on the recruiting team that hired me at IRD (now Blumont). Kate left IRD in the Fall of 2008 to take a position with DevEx, and we’ve been able to stay in touch. DevEx is…

I went to Iraq in late September 2014 and I never posted my blog notes about it. It was a low point for me as a humanitarian because I didn't feel confident at all being there, but I know I'm probably not alone among my colleagues.

A student of mine recently asked about potentially taking an internship in Iraq. I gave her my opinion based on my personal experience. Then I realized that I had written a pretty much done blog post about my Iraq trip which I never posted – mostly because that trip always felt like a low point in my humanitarian career. I was afraid of posting it because of not only me curating my personal…

Heading to a career fair? Here are 6 tips for success

(This post was originally featured on DevEx)

One of the older ways of recruiting endures to this day: The career fair.

Dozens, even hundreds of employers come with tablecloths, displays, pamphlets, mugs, pens, and other free stuff. They send recruiters and hiring managers, who come to sit at tables where they hope qualified people will come ask them about their various opportunities. These…

Resources for International Development and Humanitarian Assistance

This list and various summaries is for students interested in humanitarian response and international development. I’ve been sending this out once a semester, but I decided to share it with the world. Much of the text here is cut and paste from the “about” section of each website, but I wrote a little here and there where I can share useful context. I will be trying to update this list from time…

Why I’m not changing my profile photo

7/5/16 Some thoughts on perspective and solidarity… I’ve been on Facebook WAY too much in the last couple of months. It’s a self-perpetuating loop, where I post links mostly to whatever I’m reading, which is generally work-related, or just channeling whatever my little bubble is angry about. Today I was annoyed with the Scottish actress who wrote a stupid book about her gap-year in Zambia. Once I…

Hopefully my final perspective on this subject, being a dad who had to travel a lot.

For the handful of you that read this blog – thank you very much, by the way! – you’ll have noticed that I’ve been open about my career development in relation to my personal life. I’ve written a few articles about being a traveling parent (Daddy Aid Worker 1 and 2). Recently I got myself published in the Guardian Global Development Professionals weekly “Secret Aid Worker” column. The Article was…

Career Advice Part 4 – Your first year after grad school

Career Advice for After Graduate School – Navigating your first few years So much advice is given on how to get that first job, but what about how to navigate the critical professional development period within the first few years after graduation?   There are going to be many forks in the road, hopefully my advice can help you make the right decisions, or at least help you decide when to decide.…

MIIS Spring Breaks DC

While the stereotypical spring breakers head to far-flung destinations to absorb sun and fun, about 60 MIIS students got themselves to Washington DC where the MIIS Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS) and Alumni Relations Office collaborated to arrange 32 distinct events for MIIS students to network, learn, and develop their careers. These events included mostly information sessions and…