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Alumni SPOTLIGHT

J.T. KENNEDY ’05
From Model UN to the Department of State

J.T. Kennedy and his wife, Maneezeh share their experiences of living and working abroad.

J.T. first became interested in global affairs while studying French and Chinese at Saint
Saint Edward’s School Edward’s School. He had the opportunity to travel to China and Russia as a member
of Model UN, and he studied Chinese in China during the summer before his senior
strives to make its
year. After graduating from Saint Edward’s, J.T. enrolled at Yale University, where he
students life-long learners was managing editor of The Yale Globalist and president of the Yale International
and citizens of the world. Relations Association. After graduating from Yale in 2009 with a BA in History, J.T. went
J.T. Kennedy ’05 is a prime truly global and joined the U.S. Department of State as a foreign service officer.
example of a life-learner
J.T.’s first overseas post of duty was Guangzhou, China, where his fluency in Mandarin
who parlayed his SES and working command of Cantonese made him perfect for the job of visa officer.
globalization background Guangzhou is one of the largest visa issuing posts in the world. J.T. was responsible
for interviewing Chinese citizens in their native language to determine if they qualified
into a career.
for visas. After two years in Guangzhou, J.T. moved on to Karachi, Pakistan.

Given the security situation there, Pakistan is seen as one of the most difficult
assignments in the Foreign Service, and J.T. arrived shortly after the 2014 attack on the Karachi airport. Despite the challenges,
though, the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan is vital to both countries’ interests. As a political officer, it was J.T.s job
to represent the U.S. Government and understand the current political situation in Pakistan. While this was a difficult posting,
J.T. acknowledges Pakistan was also his most exciting post, and he feels privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know
Pakistan and its people. In fact, J.T. met his wife, Maneezeh, there.

Next on J.T.’s agenda is obtaining a dual MBA/MA in International Studies at The Wharton School and Lauder Institute
of the University of Pennsylvania, where he will focus on Chinese and will have more opportunities to travel to China.
After graduating, J.T. intends to move toward the private sector, to maintain his focus on Asia and to continue to be a man
of the world.

SAINT EDWARD’S SCHOOL