PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER
Benya Kraus ’18 is proof that an education is not limited to the classroom. Between her two internships in Washington, D.C. this past summer, her position on Tufts Community Union Senate, and her International Relations major, Benya is taking full advantage of the learning experiences at Tufts— and even creating some of her own. International Relations is one of the most popular majors at Tufts, but Benya brings extra experience to the table. “Growing up, it was like I was already getting a degree in International Relations,” she explained. Benya came to Tufts from Thailand, but has also lived in New Jersey, Switzerland, and Vietnam. To complement her major, she is creating a minor in Indigenous Peoples Studies. She feels that the narratives told by Indigenous People can teach us so much about the world today. This past summer, Benya utilized the Tisch College of Civic Life’s Summer Fellows program to find an internship in Washington, D.C. with a think tank called The Constitution Project. The Tisch College also paired Benya with a Tufts Alum to provide mentorship. “It was great to be in a new city and not feel alone at all,” she said. As part of her internship, Benya was given the opportunity to research, write, and proofread different projects for the team. Many of the projects she worked on were policy proposals for lawmakers, specifically policy about capital punishment. Even though the internship was full-time, Benya somehow managed to balance another internship simultaneously through the Institute for Global Leadership. She interned for Dr. Alaa Murabit, A UN High-Level Commisioner on Health Employment & Economic Growth, and one of her role models: “I just think she is such a powerful, compassionate, badass woman,” she said. Benya was able to draft speeches and conduct research for Dr. Murabit, who spoke at United Nations meetings and the White House over the course of the summer. Benya was able to accompany Dr. Murabit to many of these events and was given the chance to meet other professionals in the field. “I’m really interested in policy and legal language,” Benya explained. “I learned that I get frustrated with bad policies and that this is a field I want to dedicate my life to. It gave me a more nuanced understanding of what goes on in peace and negotiation work.” Not only did Benya put her knowledge of law and policy into practice; she also learned plenty about herself. She says that because of this internship, she discovered that this is the field she wants to enter after graduation. She also made another discovery in the course of the summer: “I did realize I get very antsy behind a desk and I need to be connected with people.” Not a bad trait for someone who hopes to change the world. —CHLOE MALOUF ’20
BENYA KRAUS
With two internships in Washington, D.C. under her belt, this IR major is taking full advantage of the learning experiences at Tufts—and is even creating some of her own.
’18
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS MAJOR AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES MINOR FROM LIVINGSTON, NJ AND BANGKOK, THAILAND