Name: Anne Buckle

Title of Program: International Communication and Relations

E-mail Address: abuckle@utk.edu

Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia

Year: Senior

Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2011

Description of Program: My program will uniquely combine the academic disciplines of French, political science, communications, and history to enrich my knowledge of the relationships between countries, specifically the United States and European nations, the ways in which they communicate, and the ways in which our government implements foreign policy to adapt to the continuing globalization of the world.

Departmental Emphases: French, Political Science

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sébastien Dubreil (French)

Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.): Currently, I intend on going to graduate school to study international relations and languages, for I ultimately dream of working for the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. I am also considering doing a year-long teaching assistantship in France after graduation, teaching English at a French university. Depending on where my interests lean after graduating from UT, going to law school to study international law may also be a possibility for the future. As aforementioned, I eventually wish to work for the U.S. government to aid in the building of strong political relationships with foreign nations.

Other Academic Interests: While pursuing a degree in College Scholars, I am also working toward a degree in Music Education, Voice. Music always has been and always will be a fundamental part of who I am, so it is only natural for me to seek higher education in that area. In addition to singing, I play the violin, piano, and guitar. Aspirations of mine for music include successfully performing as a commercial artist as well as conducting youth choirs. Though these ambitions are quite antithetical to my political ones, I fully intend on having careers in both fields at some point in my life.

Prior Enrollment at Other Colleges or Universities: N/A

Study Abroad: I spent the spring semester of 2008 studying French language, culture, and civilization at the Sorbonne (University of Paris IV) in Paris, France. Other international travel includes trips to England, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Research Experiences or Internships: I spent the summer of 2009 in Washington, D.C. working for the U.S. Department of State as an intern in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in the Office of Western Europe. During my tenure, I worked closely with country desk officers to prepare newly-appointed ambassadors for their Posts abroad and helped them through the nomination and confirmation process. I also drafted presidential and secretarial briefing papers for trips abroad, wrote memoranda for President Obama and Secretary Clinton, aided in drafting policy papers for the State Department, and worked alongside Foreign Service officers to strengthen diplomatic ties with western European countries. During the summer of 2006, I worked as a volunteer intern for Georgia State School Superintendent Kathy Cox on her campaign for re-election. With Mrs. Cox, I traveled all over the state, working alongside Governor Sonny Purdue and Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isaacson at political rallies for the Georgia Republican Party.

Part-time employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities: On campus, I am an Honors Ambassador for the Chancellor’s Honors Program, Vice President of the Dean's Student Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences, a Baker Scholar at the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy, a Student Alumni Associate, and Vice Regent of the University of Tennessee's Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. I am also a member of UT Concert Choir and serve as song leader of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Off campus, I volunteer as a music teacher at Knoxville’s Joy of Music Youth Music School where I teach violin to children. Additionally, in the summer I work as a counselor for the Georgia Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Convention for high school sophomores.