Grace Faerber, who was the College of Humanities’ Outstanding Senior for Spring 2020, earning a degree in East Asian Studies and Global Studies, is now President of the DC Alumni Chapter.
Known as the Capitol Cats, the group represents almost 4,000 University of Arizona graduates living in the Potomac Area, which includes the District of Columbia, as well as parts of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. The Capitol Cats host a happy hour each month for U of A alumni in the area. The September social is at Mission in DuPont Circle on Sept. 18, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Find more information and RSVP here.
Now working as a China trade analyst, Faerber received her Master's in International Studies in Spring 2022 with a concentration in International Politics at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, a collaboration between Johns Hopkins University in DC and Nanjing University in China. Farber answered some COH questions about alumni involvement and the power of a Humanities degree:
Q: What has motivated you to stay involved in alumni activities, both at the COH university-wide levels?
I have stayed involved in alumni activities with COH, as a member of the Honors College Board, the Recent Alumni Advisory Council, and as President of the DC Alumni Chapter to stay connected to my Wildcat roots and meet other Cats after leaving U of A. Staying involved has been a fun and engaging way for me to connect with fellow alumni but also give back to a university that shaped who I am today.
Q: What have you gained from networking with other U of A and other College of Humanities alumni?
I have gained a community of wildcats outside of Tucson and a group of people with shared experiences to connect with while I am far from home! I have also accessed great events and other opportunities each month that enrich my life as a young professional to make me more well-rounded.
Q: What is the Wildcat alumni network like in Washington D.C.?
The Wildcat alumni network in DC is strong. We have a lot of alumni, and even current students, in DC, who have found themselves here for internships or jobs with the government, graduate school, or work at the many companies and organizations with major offices in the area. A lot of alumni of all ages, from recent alumni to those who graduated decades ago, who join our chapter’s monthly socials, Wildcat game watches, softball team and more!
Q: How did your Humanities degree prepare you for your career?
My degree from COH in East Asian Studies, with a focus on the Chinese language, supplied me with the language expertise to conduct research and analysis in Mandarin, as I do in my job every day today. My humanities education in East Asian culture, politics, history and relations also gave me a strong understanding that has informed my career in U.S.-China relations and work focused on Chinese government, politics, trade and more.
Q: Specifically in terms of studying abroad, how did that international experience become valuable for your career path?
My study abroad experience in China with the College of Humanities had a profound impact on my Chinese language abilities and understanding of Chinese politics, culture and history. It also inspired me to return to Asia and pursue a career in U.S.-China relations, driving me toward a master’s in international studies from Johns Hopkins University’s graduate program in China, a year-long U.S.-government sponsored fellowship studying in Taiwan, and my current career as a China Analyst for the U.S. federal government.
Q: What advice do you have for current Humanities students in terms of networking while they’re still in school, and what resources are available as Wildcat alumni?
I encourage current Humanities students to take advantage all of the wonderful career resources the University of Arizona and College of Humanities have to offer to learn about potential careers, graduate schools and internships. There are so many great resources for current students, but you can still access some as an alumni too, including Bear Down Network, LinkedIn and connecting with U of A and COH alumni through your college, alumni chapter (like my DC chapter), events, the alumni newsletter, mentoring programs and more.