We’ve Pivoted: Higher Education Academic Centers & Offices
On November 21, 2025, Ashim Shanker (Director of Content and Product Strategy, University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation), Katryna Mahoney (Senior Executive Coordinator, Harvard Center for International Development,) Kim Hart (Director of Policy and Programs, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, Security), and Marvin Crespin-Gamez (Director of the Office of Public Health Practice, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health) spoke at length about their transitions into roles in higher education, offering their insights and tips to attendees. Putra Kusdarman moderated the event.
This session was the third in our “We’ve Pivoted!” seminar series, designed to offer attendees insights and tangible advice concerning the experiences of those among us who have transitioned into new careers successfully.
As the ongoing disruptions to the development landscape and U.S. public sector have prompted many of us to pivot, many job-seekers have transitioned to roles in the higher education sector.
Undoubtedly, there are those among us who may not have considered higher education, but the panelists stressed that the sector is growing, and in need of individuals with our knowledge base and experience!
Indeed, the panelists credited their backgrounds and previous work with USAID and its implementing partners for placement in their current roles. Similar to other industries and sectors, our skills speak for themselves, but we need to find and seize opportunities that allow us to flex these muscles and contribute to important initiatives or organizations. Higher education is no different.
Our featured speakers all agreed that knowledge is paramount—and they reassured us that we all carry it in abundance. Whether we have extensive global health or education expertise, deep familiarity with human rights law, or nurture a nuanced understanding of economic development, your skills and background are in high demand, allowing you to thrive in various positions across the higher education space. In other words, you understand the world and what runs it.
In addition to our knowledge base, the higher education sector also grants us the opportunity to lean on our previous international development work experiences. Academic institutions need people with project management experience, knowledge of monitoring and evaluation processes, as well as other administrative or logistical capabilities.
Across the higher education sector, various organizations and institutions—be they universities, research centers, or other affiliated organizations—need to manage federal and private research grants and review current administrative or grant-making policies, among other tasks. Our skills are a natural fit.
During their networking and interviewing, the panelists explained not only how they were able to frame these experiences effectively for the higher education sector, but also state how these skills would help their prospective employers, drawing from previous sessions on effective networking , cover letter writing , and translating our experiences to different private or public sector audiences.
In fact, many believe that these skills enrich higher education across the board. All of our speakers underscored how these educational organizations valued their expertise and expressed their interest in having them draw on their international development background directly.
Perhaps most important, the panelists all felt that these opportunities helped them re-channel their sense of purpose. Many higher education organizations either operate in under-served and under-resourced communities, or they help garner public support (and, sometimes, public funds) to promote and sustain an individual’s right to an education.
Our guest speakers felt that working on these issues was deeply meaningful and impactful. Many of us are looking for mission-driven work. So, for those of us looking for our next calling, why not pivot to higher education?
Other Previous Sessions
Please feel free to browse our other previous sessions to access summaries, video content, and more information about our other events!