Alumni Insight with Melanie Gilbert

INMULA INSIGHTS

Melanie Gilbert '15, Grants Specialist for USAID

ALUMNI INSIGHTS

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INTERVIEW

THE ROAD TO D.C.--FROM THE GLOBAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO USAID. AN INTERVIEW WITH MELANIE GILBERT

BY ANA SUÁREZ

During the Global Research Institute’s annual

We facilitate the budgets and some of our legal

DC

the

components. I also support a small program we have

opportunity to sit down with Melanie Gilbert,

that gives privately sourced commodities to relatively

W&M 2015. The reception allowed the chance

small NGOs. I do a lot of programmatic work with that

Day

Alumni

Reception,

I

had

for Institute alums and William & Mary alums to connect with GRI students in lightning rounds of conversation. Gilbert, who currently works as a contractor for USAID got her start in the development sector as an AidData researcher

project. A big part of my job is working with our partners to see how our programs are doing and working on solving any problems that might arise. If there are any crises or disasters we drop everything we're doing to try and get aid to that region as quickly as possible.

at the Institute during undergrad. In her conversation with me she describes her career trajectory from AidData to USAID, and the wisdom she took with her from Williamsburg.

Ana Suarez: Can you tell me about the work you do with USAID and what encompasses your day to day?

Melanie Gilbert: I work at a contracting company for USAID in the grants unit of our Office of Food and Peace,

focusing on grants management and

emergency humanitarian assistance. You never really have a day to day with humanitarian assistance. It depends on the crises and what's

Photo from USAID Flickr

AS: How did you get involved in the development and aid sector?

MG: I knew that I wanted to be in the development

happening. I work sort of as a liaison between our

field. I went straight form undergrad at William & Mary

program management teams and our partners on

to graduate school, where I studied at Kings College in

budgetary and legal components.

London. I studied conflict security in development and

ALUMNI INSIGHTS

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while I was there I saw that the Global Research Institute

was

advertising

this

junior

program

INTERVIEW

AS: What is one thing that William & Mary did that prepared you for your career?

manager position that was connected to USAID. I

MG: Specifically, at the Global Research Institute I feel

would be based at USAID in the policy planning

that one of the most valuable things at the time was

learning bureau working in collaboration with the

this career tactics workshop that David [Trichler] led.

people

He worked with us on how to make our resumes and

there

and

with

AidData

doing

data

transparency and donor coordination. I reached out

cover letters more impactful.

to David Trichler [Director of Programs and Outreach

everyone

at GRI] and applied to the position.

Basically, I

professional development training while they're still at

joined AidData and USAID simultaneously after grad

W&M. It's hard to know as an undergrad--who has never

school. That was a yearlong contract and I had a

been in the professional field or just had internship--

former colleague from the USAID office who told me

how to really write a resume and apply for a job

about an opening they had at her new office, so I

effectively. I remember being in class thinking, "Wow,

look

for

those

I recommend that

opportunities

to

get

applied and I've been with at USAID ever since.

"I REMEMBER BEING IN THAT CLASS THINKING 'WOW, I HAD NO IDEA THAT I HAD THE SKILLS THAT THIS JOB IS ASKING FOR" AS: Did your affiliation with the Institute start with

I had no idea that I had the skills that this job is asking

that joint position at USAID/AidData?

for".

MG: No actually, I was at AidData even before that. I

could never do that" but I just didn't realize I was and

was in the TUFF program, which is now known as

how to phrase it."

TDF (Transparent Data Footprints) and focused on

AS: What is your favorite memory from the Institute?

tracking underreported financial flows. I started there an intern, then research assistant during the summer between my junior and senior year at W&M. I stayed on the team through my senior year and into the summer before I went to grad school. I've honestly been around for a while!

I thought, "I'm not qualified for those things, I

MG: I made a lot of friends when I was working at AidData. I think it was just in general the people and the time spent with them, especially when everyone was sitting together in the Scotland Street house . You just really get to build strong friendships with people. A lot of the people that I worked with there I'm still really

AS: What would you tell a recent Institute alum who is

close with today. I guess that wasn't a memory, but

interested in joining your field?

more of a feeling. That's why it's always cool to come to

MG: I would tell them not to be afraid of taking

these things [DC day] and catch up with friends who

advantage of any connections they had, even if it seems

you haven't seen in a while.

like a minor connection through their professor.

Anything you can do to get your foot in the door you should take. It's really hard to break into the field

Melanie Gilbert continues to connect with Institute friends and W&M students in D.C. We are happy we had the chance to catch up with her and dive deeper

especially if you don't know anyone and you don't have

into

a lot of inside information. Just reach out to people;

development sector.

people are always happy to meet up and chat.

her

experiences

with

AidData

and

the