顶级国产视频

On paper, the path from 顶级国产视频 & Marshall to global delegate made perfect sense for Vassilis Coutifaris '09.

Prior to working in diplomacy, Coutifaris was foreign policy program manager at the Brookings Institution; program manager at Harvard University鈥檚 Center for European Studies; and an international strategy analyst at MetLife in New York. His doctoral thesis focused on economic security and geopolitics.

But before that, Coutifaris was an F&M student finding his way around Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

鈥淲hen I was a first-year at F&M, I had zero idea of what I wanted to do. So I embraced the liberal arts curriculum 鈥� too much,鈥� Coutifaris joked.

He dabbled in economics and government, and engaged with a plethora of clubs. He was an avid intramural soccer player and active member of Brooks College House. He was even elected as the first president of the .

Coutifaris ultimately decided to major in Business, organizations & society and history of art & architecture 鈥� an unexpected pairing that led to a life in international affairs. 

鈥淒on鈥檛 worry too much about those linear stories, especially you seniors in the room,鈥� he told F&M students during a Nov. 11 visit to campus. 

鈥淭hat was not for me. But there were things that remained very constant: My desire to work on something that's international,鈥� he said. 

鈥淔or some of you, it could be international food. It could be international travel. It could be business. It could be foreign languages. It doesn't have to be foreign policy,鈥� said Coutifaris, of Athens, Greece. He now resides in Washington, D.C.

Coutifaris embraced the College鈥檚 liberal arts curriculum to shape a successful career in diplomacy, business, and the intersection of foreign policy and academia. His art studies played a surprising role.

鈥淚 can not stop talking about how important architecture was in helping me understand civilizations and cultures, helping me connect dots between places, between time periods, between people,鈥� he said, noting that enjoys observing patterns, symmetry, repetition and consistency both on buildings and across landscapes.

Coutifaris went on to earn a master鈥檚 and a doctoral degree from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University and a master's degree from Georgetown University. He is a member of F&M鈥檚 Alumni Association Board. 

鈥淚 believe the liberal arts value of F&M is that it trains all of us, in a way, to be a bit more adaptive,鈥� Coutifaris said.

鈥淣ow, 20 years later, I guess it's not that weird that a guy who went to 顶级国产视频 & Marshall 鈥� that has Diplomats as a mascot nickname 鈥� ended up working in diplomacy.鈥�

On Nov. 11, Coutifaris sat down with students and staff to field questions about his career path. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What was the pathway from F&M to your first job out of college? 

I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be international. I cared about sectors that have a broader reach, a higher purpose. So the idea of nonprofits, public service and academia were very important to me. I want to give credit to this beautiful college, because the then-president of F&M, John Fry, said 鈥業 think you should move to D.C.鈥� He felt that working in something more public service-oriented may suit me better than, say, strictly going straight into a corporate career. That's how I ended up applying to the Brookings Institution, almost on a whim. That experience demonstrated how much I still had to learn. Stay grounded, work hard.

How did mentorship play a role in your time here at F&M?

Mentors at F&M gave me a chance to apply my skills into something greater than my personal interests 鈥� to get involved in an organization on campus, to get involved in a student club, be an active member of the community. After initially getting lost in the curriculum and the new campus environment, I was eventually elected the first president of Diplomatic Congress, became a member of Alumni Leaders of Tomorrow, and the founder of some clubs on campus. But it was through getting lost and being supported by amazing friends and mentors that it all worked out.

Now, 20 years later, I guess it's not that weird that a guy who went to 顶级国产视频 & Marshall 鈥� that has Diplomats as a mascot nickname 鈥� ended up working in diplomacy. I guess it's not that random for a person who was involved in student government on campus to now work in public service. Or, somebody who used to be a member of the Alumni Leaders of Tomorrow to now serve on the Alumni Board. 

鈥淚 believe the liberal arts value of F&M is that it trains all of us, in a way, to be a bit more adaptive.鈥�

Vassilis Coutifaris '09

Why did you choose your majors? 

For business, I was attracted to the concept of strategy. It was something really interesting to me, because strategy can be military in the ancient world, it can be corporate, it can be political. It even applies to sports. In [my first business class], I had to draft my first business plan. After I graduated from F&M, I worked in corporate strategy in New York City for two years. A seemingly random meeting at a professor's office and a conversation led me to that class. That class led into my first corporate job out of college.

Architecture and art [enabled me] to take classes and learn about different periods of time, history, maps and geography and different ways of expressing symbols and emotions. What I can not stop talking about is how important it was in helping me understand civilizations and cultures, helping me connect dots. I really do use a lot of those skillsets in my professional analysis when it comes down to foreign relations and national security. But also, it's fun 鈥� and it's okay to have fun! 

How did your many campus activities help shape you as an F&M student? 

Having lived in seven different cities in my life, I feel more comfortable when I'm surrounded by people that do not necessarily see the world the way I do. I thought getting involved in student government was a way to see [new] aspects of campus. That helped me get a better understanding of the broader F&M community. That nicely translated into my professional life, because having lived on both sides of the Atlantic, there was an innate interest in strengthening relations between Americans and Europeans. That's where my passion lies.

As a European American, myself 鈥� with big love for Pennsylvania and Athens 鈥� I wanted to be a little bridge. When you're a student, you start small. My bridge at that point was to organize soccer games for international students. And then I became involved with the business club and the Princeton International Crisis Simulation.

Looking back, the more I traveled between cities, moved between sectors, the more I broadened my perspectives. Challenged my assumptions. Like working for the Europe team of an American institution. The U.S. office of a European institution. Or by studying European studies at an American university, and learning about U.S. foreign policy analysis at the European campus of that American university.

Those four years at F&M happened quickly. A lot of the impact didn't really become apparent until years later in my professional life.

F&M students gather in Druker Commons to hear Vassilis Coutifaris '09 discuss his career path to global delegate. (Photo by Deb Grove)

鈥淭hose four years at F&M happened quickly. A lot of the impact didn't really become apparent until years later in my professional life,鈥� Coutifaris said. (Photo by Deb Grove)

Vassilis Coutifaris '09 spent a day on campus speaking with students about a career in international affairs.

Vassilis Coutifaris '09 spent time with students during a May 2025 seminar in Washington, D.C., 鈥淓ngaged Citizenship, Social Impact and Social Responsibility.鈥�

芦 PreviousNext 禄