Diplomacy Alumna Joins Peace Corps in North Macedonia

Elisa Cavalli ’23, an alumna of the Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations, will soon begin her service with the Peace Corps as an English language teacher in North Macedonia. She departs on September 20 for training that will prepare her for two years of service.

Cavalli, who earned her bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and international relations, said the program offers her the chance to pursue her passion for global service. “The Peace Corps allows for intercultural connections that otherwise wouldn't exist. Together, we can learn from each other and grow,” Cavalli said. “I am most excited to see a new part of the world and a different culture.”

She credits her Seton Hall education and experiences with guiding her toward this path. “I entered college as a freshman knowing I wanted to pursue foreign service in some aspect. Seton Hall provided me with ample opportunities and knowledge that allowed me to understand where I fit into that varied career,” she said. “Through my participation on the Model UN team, which I was the president of from 2022-23, I developed my passion for cooperation and debate on foreign topics; and taking courses such as Institutions of Global Governance and Sustainable Development provided me with readings and assignments that broadened my perspective on what it means to serve globally. Being surrounded by like-minded students and professors at the School of Diplomacy made this path seem completely feasible.”

Matthew Escobar, Ph.D., associate professor of French and Spanish, said Cavalli’s academic record and values make her well-suited for Peace Corps service. "I am very excited to learn that Elisa Cavalli will be joining the Peace Corps, where her values, skills, and drive will help her excel,” Escobar said. “Elisa demonstrated exemplary analytical skills in several courses of mine, including two focused on French literature and French democratic principles. Her participation stood out particularly in the latter course, in which she consistently pushed the conversation into more challenging and creative territory. Her commitment to ethical engagement and to fundamental civil rights guarantees was clear in these courses, which often dealt with those issues. With experience at UNICEF, SHE-CAN, and the Liberia National Red Cross Society, her intercultural wherewithal has clearly only increased since her time at Seton Hall."

Among her most influential mentors was Purnaka de Silva, Ph.D., who encouraged her to pursue work abroad. “He has been an amazing mentor to me even after college,” Cavalli said. “He was the first person to make pursuing work in this field seem not only possible, but the only right choice for me. He understands who I am and what makes me passionate. When I first graduated from college, he encouraged me to serve abroad in Monrovia, Liberia, to try out this path. There, I worked for the Liberian National Red Cross Society. And later, when I explained to him that I was in NY pursuing agency-side work, he led me back to what I truly care about: being on the ground, around people, making a difference that I can see with my own eyes. He is the reason I applied to the Peace Corps. I am so grateful to him and his advice. My life would be very different without a person like him in my corner.”

She also highlighted her senior research project with Benjamin Goldfrank, Ph.D., as a defining academic experience. “My favorite course was my Senior Research Project with Dr. Benjamin Goldfrank. I have always loved to write, but for the first time, I was challenged with dedicating an entire semester to a single paper. Through that course, I discovered how deeply I love research. Funnily enough, my project was on the usage of the Russian language in post-Soviet states. Now, I’ll be living in a country influenced by the USSR, with the goal of facilitating language exchange.”

For Cavalli, the Peace Corps represents both personal and professional growth. “The Peace Corps is a commitment, but it is also the first step of an amazingly different life,” she said. “From all of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) I’ve talked to, this is the job that has changed them the most, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. The Peace Corps allows for intercultural connections through individual U.S. citizens; where else can you find an opportunity like that? This is where you can do meaningful work, not only to yourself, but to an entire community that you will be a part of on the other side of the world.”

She added that the program provides benefits beyond the service itself. “Not only does the Peace Corps provide personal growth, but it also helps career growth as well. RPCV’s receive lowered or free tuition at certain grad schools and hiring benefits concerning federal employment. I know that the Peace Corps is not only the best choice for my present, but also my future.”

After her service, Cavalli hopes to continue her education in international relations. “After service, I hope to pursue further education in the field of international relations stateside or abroad,” she said. “I’m hoping through service I learn exactly what that path that might look like, whether I’ll pursue a Master's in conflict or peace studies, immigration, development, or another subject that surprises me during service.”

Categories: Alumni, Education, Nation and World