Evangeline Moore
Master’s in Conflict and Democracy Studies, graduated in 2022
Coming from the United States, currently working as a researcher at Institute H21 in Prague.
interviewed by Michaela Nespěchalová, March 2024
1. How has your Master of Social Studies degree helped shape your career path?
I am now working as a political scientist, which is exactly what I hoped a master’s degree would help me to eventually do. Thanks to the democracy-focused courses within the Conflict & Democracy Studies program, I got to really specialize in the topics that are most interesting to me. This was of course an advantage during my studies, as I was always engaged, but also something that I appreciated afterword, since I could highlight this specialization on my job applications.
2. How was your experience at Masaryk university?
Despite the challenges of studying during the pandemic lockdown, I think I made the most out of my studies at MUNI. This was due partly to the design and content of my program of course, and also thanks to the fact that it attracted such a diverse and motivated group of people to study with and learn from.
3. Can you share some examples of the specific skills and knowledge you gained during your program that have been valuable in your professional life?
My job now definitely utilizes my education. Since I do research within an area of political science, my work is probably more similar than usual to the student assignments of an MA program. The CDS courses included chances to practice various quantitative and qualitative methods, strengthening the research skills that I now use daily.
4. What did you learn during your studies that attracted you the most?
I really liked the range of topics that were covered within CDS, and the way that having a narrow degree program focus allowed us to approach the topics of conflict and democracy from so many different angles. In a more broadly-focused political science program, it wouldn’t have been possible to spend so much time on such specific interests. For anyone who knows what their main academic interests are, if possible, I recommend choosing a narrower MA program like this.
5. What were some of the most memorable courses or experiences during your Master's program?
Looking back, the most memorable experiences during my studies were all of the personal encounters around the program that made me feel like part of a community in Brno. My classmates became my close friends, we would join our lecturers at the pub after class, I took part in some student groups and attended whatever events I could. Brno is also small enough that you don’t need to know tons of people before you start bumping into friends around the city. This comfort and engagement made me a happier person, and thanks to that, a better student.
6. What initially attracted you to the field of social studies, and has that motivation evolved over time?
I have always been interested in social studies. I did my BA in international relations and got a job after graduation that I loved, and it proved to me that I was in the right field. That job also helped me to decide what topics were most interesting to me, and what skills and knowledge I would need to advance my career further in the future. I chose the Conflict & Democracy Studies program because it’s exactly what I was looking for thematically, and it was the only program I could find in Europe with a democracy-specific focus. I’m still really happy with that choice, and glad to have a job now that keeps me in the field.
7. How did your program prepare you for working in a diverse and multicultural society?
One of the best aspects of my program was that my classmates were very diverse – not only from different countries, but from very dissimilar countries all around the world. This enhanced our class conversations greatly, and we all gained much broader perspectives than the course content alone could teach. When diverse perspectives are part of your academic and personal education, you benefit and grow so much that you never want to lose them.
8. Do you have any advice for the incoming students that you would like to share?
Make the most of every opportunity to attend events, meet people from other countries and backgrounds, and take at least one class in a completely different field from your own. These challenges will not only widen your perspectives and fuel huge personal development, but create new paths forward for you after you finish your studies.
9. What is your professional career and where are you currently living?
I would have loved to stay in Brno after my studies, since I really love the city and got comfortable there, but I found a great opportunity in Prague that perfectly matches my interests. I research electoral systems at Institute H21. The work and the topics are engaging, and living in Prague has also been a fun adventure.