Building a Future in Foreign Service: A Seton Hall Success Story

From the moment Isabelle Vega 23’ decided in high school to pursue a career in the Foreign Service, her academic and professional choices have been guided by purpose. Drawn to Seton Hall’s School of Diplomacy after meeting alumni Pickering Fellows, she immersed themselves fully in the university experience—triple-majoring in Diplomacy, Philosophy and Italian; participating in the Honors Program; strengthening their Spanish; and taking on leadership roles as an RA, Head RA and community engagement leader. These experiences, paired with a strong commitment to public service, helped her build a competitive foundation early on.

Vega’s professional footing developed through several impactful internships. As an undergraduate, she completed two U.S. Department of State internships—one in Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rica, and another in Consular Affairs in Panama City, Panama. Additional work with DOVE, CCRE, and the U.S. Census Bureau further demonstrated her dedication to service and civic engagement. These experiences played a key role in Vega’s successful application to the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship in 2023.

Through the fellowship, she earned a fully funded Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and went on to serve as a Political-Economic Fellow at the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia. In this role, her day-to-day work included attending NATO and Ministry of Defense briefings, collaborating with Department of Defense counterparts, meeting with Estonian government officials on issues ranging from fiscal policy to human rights, drafting high-impact diplomatic cables and supporting visiting congressional staff delegations. The position offered a firsthand look at the fast-paced and interconnected nature of global diplomacy.

Reflecting on her path, she credits Seton Hall with providing both the academic rigor and practical preparation needed to thrive in the field. Her advice to current and prospective Diplomacy students is simple but meaningful: "Follow your passions. There is no single path in international relations, and the field depends on diverse perspectives and innovative thinkers. Your unique interests have a place—and are needed—in diplomacy."

Categories: Alumni, Education