International Careers

Lindsay Harrison

Intelligence Research Specialist
U.S. State Department
Washington, D.C.

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, 2006, History, minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and political science, University of Oregon

Lindsay Harrison’s UO courses provided a broad foundation of skills that have proven invaluable in her work as an intelligence research specialist for the U.S. State Department. Harrison works in the area of diplomatic security for Sub-Saharan Africa. “I assist special agents with investigations they’re conducting,” says Harrison. “We deal with threat analysis, and it’s challenging to fit together parts of the puzzle. I enjoy working for the State—in general, their mission is diplomacy, and our work is for the betterment of human beings. I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Harrison says her family is full of history majors, and she maintained that trend. She even added Spanish and Italian courses to her undergraduate work, and studied abroad in Sienna, Italy. “Having that knowledge of history was very valuable during my time abroad,” she says. “But I would say that the greatest influence on my career path was my professors at the UO. They challenged me to learn and work beyond the status quo.”

With that encouragement, Harrison landed a yearlong internship at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, which she completed after graduation. “I worked as a Consular Intern with American Citizen Services, helping people with visas and passports. I did a public diplomacy project with local school children; I did an art and embassies project. It was very multifaceted, just a great experience.” That internship led to a deeper understanding of foreign affairs, and a passion for improving world conditions.

Photo by Nathan McCarthy