Joy Kwak’s journey in international affairs began with her undergraduate studies in International Development at McGill University. Growing up in British Columbia, Joy always harbored a curiosity about the world, especially how diverse cultures and political systems intersect and collaborate. Though she initially pursued development studies, her interest shifted towards the diplomatic and policy-driven aspects of international affairs, leading her to NPSIA with its renowned flexibility, coop program, and extensive career connections.
At NPSIA, Joy specialized in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, opting not to continue with international development due to her growing interest in policy work. She found herself resonating with the hands on, practical experiences offered by professors who shared perspectives drawn from careers outside of academia. One of her most memorable classes was with Professor David Carment, where she explored critical insights into Canada’s international engagements and challenges.
Joy’s academic journey at NPSIA was enriched through coop placements with Global Affairs Canada and another with Public Safety focusing on national security and counterterrorism policy. These placements allowed her to learn firsthand about Canada’s foreign policy work, particularly in Asia and Afghanistan. Joy reflects that her coop experiences were instrumental, helping her secure a fulltime position at Global Affairs, where she is now part of the Afghanistan Task Force. Her international experience was further broadened by an exchange program at Sciences Po in Paris, where she embraced the local culture and engaged with the global perspectives offered by one of Europe’s premier political science institutions.
Reflecting on her time at NPSIA, Joy is especially grateful for the networking opportunities unique to Ottawa. From meeting ambassadors to participating in speaker series and attending global conferences, she felt these experiences gave her invaluable exposure to real-world diplomacy. Meeting the Korean Ambassador was a personal highlight, as she could converse with him in Korean and learn about Canada’s current relations with Korea.
For Joy, NPSIA has helped her develop professionally and personally, smoothing the path toward her current career in foreign service. Her work on the Afghanistan Task Force primarily focused on refugee resettlement, allowing her to gain deeper insights into the complexities of global migration and international policy. Although she occasionally feels the pressure to specialize early, Joy remains enthusiastic about exploring diverse opportunities within her field and is particularly interested in roles abroad, hoping to engage in various international settings.