Any questions please visit the SIS Graduate Career Services Website

Graduate Career Services

Personalized Career Advising

Schedule a career advising appointment at any point during your program. We offer customized career assistance with career exploration, résumé and cover letter writing, networking, internships, job search strategy, interviewing, offer negotiation, and other career concerns.

Drop in Advising Hours
All students are welcome to take advantage of our drop-in hours. These 10-minute sessions are ideal for general questions on resumes and cover letters (paper copies required) and internship and job search strategy. For all other topics, please schedule an appointment through Handshake. Hours are subject to change. Please check our advising page for current information.
Online Career Resource Library
The SIS Career Resource Library is a password-protected website created exclusively for SIS students and alumni that holds career guides, templates, and other tools and resources relevant to pursuing careers in international affairs.

 

Meet the Team

Please meet your Career Advisors:

Shaine Cunningham, Director, Career Education & Employer Relations

David Fletcher, Senior Career Advisor

Julia Barr, Career Advisor

John Charles, Career Advisor

Learn more about the Master of International Service (MIS) Program at American University.


Shaine Cunningham, Director, Career Education & Employer Relations

Shaine earned a B.S. from the University of Florida and an M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California.

As Director of Career Education and Employer Relations, Shaine oversees the SIS Office of Career Development and provides leadership and strategic direction in the design, delivery, and assessment of career support services for 3,000 upperclassmen and graduate students studying in the School of International Service.

Email: smelnick@american.edu

Phone: (202) 885-2511

Schedule an appointment with Shaine

Return to top


David Fletcher, Senior Career Advisor

MBA, University of Maryland
MS, Marketing, University of Maryland
BA, Government and Politics, University of Maryland

David is part of the career advising team for soon-to-graduate undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni of the School of International Service. He assists applicants for nationally competitive scholarships through the Office of Merit Awards and lends guidance to Global Scholars, Olson Scholars, and University College students with career services. Also David advises student organizations such as SIS Undergraduate Council, IFC/Panhellenic Council, Delta Phi Epsilon, and Zeta Psi. He enjoys representing the School of International Service to prospective and new students at Preview Days, Eagle Summits, and Graduate Orientation events. An innate coach, he helps students to clarify their career goals and gain the critical knowledge and skills they need to launch their career. David draws upon his previous advising experience with Kogod School of Business students, as well as his international business background with multinational corporations, including Continental Airlines, Taylor Made Adidas, and Commercial Plastics & Supply Corporation. David has traveled extensively to 48 states and 16 countries on three continents. Having studied French and Russian for a few years, he has tremendous respect and admiration for multilingual speakers.

Email: fletcher@american.edu

Phone: (202) 885-1811

Schedule an appointment with David

Return to top


Julia Barr, Career Advisor

MA, International Education Policy, Higher Education, and Student Affairs, University of Maryland
MA, Education and Teaching, Pepperdine University
BA, English, Pepperdine University

Julia’s professional roles have always centered around helping students achieve their goals. She has worked with students of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures both domestically and abroad in Slovakia, South Korea, and Germany. Prior to joining the Office of Career Development team at SIS, Julia held positions in study abroad advising and teacher performance assessment at the University of Maryland. She is passionate about the opportunities for change-making present in International Affairs careers and focused her graduate studies on young adult involvement in the peacebuilding process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Email: jbarr@american.edu

Schedule an appointment with Julia

Return to top


John Charles, Career Advisor

MA, Communication, University of Hawaii
MA, Education, Stanford University
BA, Government and French, Oberlin College

John advises first- and second-year undergraduate students in the School of International Service. His primary function is to work with students in individual sessions on applications for internships, jobs and fellowships. John believes that achieving career success after graduation from AU depends largely on activities undertaken during one’s time on campus—through internships, student organization involvement, participation in conferences and seminars in Washington, D.C., and networking with alumni and other students, faculty and staff. John’s professional experience includes two stints at federal government agencies, serving as program manager for an educational nonprofit, and teaching English in Japan.

Email: charles@american.edu

Phone: (202) 885-1810

Schedule an appointment with Charles

Return to top