Corinne Winters
Born and raised in Upper Freehold in central New Jersey, I grew up surrounded by horse farms and hiking trails and spent much of my childhood running around my grandparents’ Christmas Tree Farm. I’m a determined and organized person and I possess a deep curiosity for the world around me, a trait which continues to inform my career and study choices to this day. Beyond academia, you’ll probably find me wandering the streets of Madrid in search of a new gluten-free restaurant, baking my favorite treats or burning them off in the gym.
“Being surrounded by such a mix of cultures and languages in the classroom is the perfect environment in which to undertake an international degree.”
Bridging the gap between people and policy
Making the switch from the tranquil New Jersey farming community she called home to the bustling streets of the Spanish capital was a challenge, but it didn’t phase Corinne too much. In fact, since competing in the Youth Friendship Games in Amsterdam when she was twelve, her love of travel and cultures was clear to all who knew her. Her time in the Netherlands taught her how much she had in common with people from different parts of the world and was followed four years later by a stint as a people-to-people student ambassador in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
This sparked an interest in how her ancestors came to settle in the United States and drew her towards cultural diplomacy and world affairs, areas which would come together in an undergraduate degree in international studies at The College of New Jersey.
Following graduation, a term spent as an intern in Washington DC gave Corinne the chance to take up a role as policy editor for The Policy Circle, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that engages women in public policy in their communities. She thrived on interactions with policymakers and subject-matter experts, helping others to understand the impact policies have on their lives.
Despite enjoying her work, Corinne’s curiosity for the world beyond US borders soon drove her to seek out new opportunities. It was during her time studying in Alcalá de Henares as part of her undergraduate degree that she first became aware of IE University. As part of the same trip, she volunteered to teach English to immigrants at a cultural center, forcing her to grapple with issues of integration and the human impact of the international immigration system.
At the heart of her professional choices is a desire to contribute to the global community by fostering connections and understanding between people, making IE University’s Master in International Relations a perfect fit. The program’s affiliation with the OECD, the fieldwork in Brussels and the Capstone Project are exactly the kinds of opportunities Corinne believes can help her bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world in an attempt to connect policies with the people they affect.
“At the heart of my professional choices is a desire to contribute to the global community by fostering connections and understanding between people.”
With that goal in mind, she considers the Public Policy Design course her favorite so far. It coupled nicely with her background in public policy analysis, allowing her to apply her knowledge in new ways as she developed a deeper understanding of the intricacies of devising public policy.
It’s not only inside the classroom where Corrine has found her place at IE University, either. She signed up for the Health and Well-being Club and enrolled in the extra-curricular Mastering Your Mind in the Digital Era course. This has all contributed to the positive experience she has enjoyed so far, although as was always likely to be the case for Corinne, it’s the people that make IE University extra special. As she puts it, being surrounded by such a mix of cultures and languages in the classroom is the perfect environment in which to undertake an international degree, guided by a team of kind and knowledgeable professors.
Of course, studying away from home means settling into a new city and Corinne loves how Madrid is at once so lively and relaxed. She can walk everywhere, and the green spaces, in particular the rose garden in Retiro Park, provide sweet respite from city life. She’s also fallen for the European cafe culture, delighted by the vast selection of gluten-free options which she says don’t exist back home. Just a few minutes’ walk from María Molina, her top celiac-friendly recommendation is Sana Locura.
As is to be expected, anything which pushes you outside of your comfort zone will always be challenging but Corinne’s overriding impression is one of a rewarding adventure. She feels as though IE University has given her as many opportunities as one could ever imagine to learn and experience all that she came here to do.