Avery Lilienthal

Background

About Avery Lilienthal

I am a fourth-year student at Northeastern University obtaining a BA in International Affairs with a minor in Economics. My coursework has allowed me to gain experience drafting policy memos, preparing background papers, and verbally presenting my ideas and findings. Additionally, both academic and personal international experiences in Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East have strengthened my global perspective and multicultural competence. I recently completed my first co-op as a Parliamentary Assistant/Secretary at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, working for Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Jackie Baillie MSP. Everyday tasks of mine included drafting parliamentary questions/motions, writing correspondences, and conducting research to be organised into briefings and reports, among others. Learning about and engaging in UK politics through this co-op allowed me to understand what goes on behind the scenes, interact with the landscape in a meaningful way, and broaden my horizons beyond what is shown in the media. In 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Rwanda to study conflict and development economics. During this time, I spent a week with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Ministry for Information Communications Technology and Innovation (MINICT). These experiences solidified my interest in and passion for human and refugee rights, conflict and peacebuilding, democracy, and global development.