Alumni in national, global security share career advice with students

Caitlyn Turgeon '08 (left), human capital consultant at Deloitte Federal Consulting, spoke with students after a panel discussion during the recent
Caitlyn Turgeon '08 (left), human capital consultant at Deloitte Federal Consulting, spoke with students after a panel discussion during the recent "Sundays with Alumni" program on careers in counterterrorism.

Protecting foreign leaders, gathering top-secret information, combating terrorist cells — no, this isn’t the plot of the next James Bond movie.

It’s all in a day’s work for alumni like Justin Rowan ’98, a special agent in the U.S. State Department. This type of job is not for the faint of heart and it is hard to break into the field, Rowan recently told a group of interested Connecticut College students, so he urged them to “be patient, but persistent.”

“Apply to multiple agencies,” said Rowan. “You don’t have to be dead-set on one. The collaboration between agencies is so fluid that all you need is to get your foot in the door and get exposure.”

Rowan was one of three alumni who participated in a recent “Sundays with Alumni” networking discussion, “A Safe State: Careers in National and Global Security.” The program allows students to learn about specific career fields and network with alumni from various industries.

The panel also included Caitlyn Turgeon ’08, human capital consultant at Deloitte Federal Consulting, and John Cohen ’83 P’17, principal undersecretary for intelligence and analysis and counterterrorism coordinator in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. William Rose, professor of government and international relations, moderated the discussion.

As is often the case for liberal arts graduates, each panelist followed a unique path to their current career.

Cohen majored in history and minored in literature, then went on to work as a police officer in Los Angeles while taking graduate classes at the University of Southern California. He said the liberal arts curriculum at Connecticut College prepared him “to face the ever-changing, fluid world of national security.”

Turgeon majored in international relations and began a career in finance during the recent economic collapse. Wanting to leave the field, Turgeon spoke with Bruce Hoffman ’76, a terrorism expert and the director of the security studies program at Georgetown University. He encouraged her to enroll in the program, and she served as his research assistant during her time there.  

“This was a good starting place for me, getting to work with an alumnus and seeing the path he took. The career office at the College does an outstanding job of connecting you with alumni and providing networking opportunities,” said Turgeon, who now works for a private company that partners with government agencies to solve critical human capital issues.

Rowan was an East Asian studies major at Connecticut College. He now works for an elite group within the U.S. State Department that secures embassies and consulates overseas, as well as protects foreign leaders domestically, providing a safe environment for foreign policy and diplomacy to take place.

As a student at Connecticut College, studying the culture and history of the many nations he now works in gave Rowan a better understanding of why certain conflicts take place. “The State Department and other government agencies have a habit of hiring from a variety of backgrounds to create a more well-rounded and diverse staff. Knowing the background of other nations can make you an asset.”

Other advice the panelists shared included:

  • Get experience in your field, then advanced degrees. “I learned more on the streets of L.A. than I ever could’ve in a graduate class,” said Cohen. “What we do isn’t black-and-white, and we need to understand human dynamics that really can’t be taught in a classroom. Get some valuable experience, then you can go back to school with a new perspective.”
  • Want top-secret clearance? Be honest and up-front. “Everything about you will be investigated, so over-share when you’re interviewing. If you studied abroad, keep information on all of the people you meet. Also, be careful how you present yourself on social media,” said Turgeon.
  • There’s a lot you don’t know. “I learned so much during my time at Connecticut College, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” said Rowan. “Those skills have helped me expand my knowledge even further as I’ve progressed in my field. Every day brings something new to learn, so keep an open mind and recognize what you don’t know. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, either.”

Upcoming “Sundays with Alumni” programs include: “Sports and Business Management” on March 2, 2014; and “Event Management” on April 6, 2014. For more information, contact Beth Poole ’00 in the Office of Alumni Relations at beth.poole@conncoll.edu. 



November 7, 2013