Commuter Turned Globetrotter

Evangelia Stavros, 22, enrolled at Fordham four years ago in part because of the proximity of the Rose Hill campus to her home in Queens, N.Y. But her desire for convenience didn’t stop her from traveling thousands of miles and literally around the world on route to a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Through several unique programs offered at Fordham, Stavros, a marketing major in the College of Business Administration (CBA), studied in Crete, San Francisco, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil and Cuba. That list doesn’t even include the two weeks she spent with Fordham’s Global Outreach program, working in Tennessee with Nashville Cares, which provides services to people living with HIV and AIDS.

“I wanted to take advantage of everything Fordham offered,” said Stavros.

Her first step was to spend the summer between her freshman and sophomore years at the Polytechnic University of Crete. “It was a starting point for me,” she said. “I realized I was on my own journey of discovery.”

The following year, Stavros was awarded a Boyle Fellowship. Named for the Rev. William Boyle, S.J., who for many years was a beloved member of the CBA faculty, the program enables top business students to work on publishable research with faculty mentors.

Stavros was teamed with Lawrence J. King, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, who cultivated her desire for international study even further. With King, she helped create a study tour of China, developing a marketing plan, networking with other educational and cultural institutions, and creating a model Web site for the program. “Dr. King became my mentor,” Stavros said. “He has done a lot of traveling and has experience with different cultures, particularly in the Pacific Rim, and he guided me in my career goals.”

He also offered advice as she considered her next option—the University of Dreams program. She was eventually selected for this exclusive summer program set in the San Francisco Bay area, which included internships at various Silicon Valley firms and a seminar series, as well as weekend excursions.

Perhaps Stavros’s most ambitious endeavor was her Semester at Sea, which earned her 13 credits through international field work and cross-cultural exposure to nine countries in 100 days. The combination of business classes and field practica in each country allowed her to gain a comparative perspective on the practices of multinational corporations, as well as non-governmental organizations.

“The experiences broadened my world view and helped me understand issues relative to a developing country’s standards,” she explained. “In evaluating whether the business practices of a manufacturing plant in Vietnam are ethical, I became aware of the importance of assessing the situation in view of Vietnam’s economic development rather than solely from an American standpoint.”

As she begins her job search, Stavros’ educational background and diverse experiences offer her plenty of options.

Stavros is currently interning at the United Nations Association of the United States of America, the nonprofit arm of the United Nations. The association educates and encourages civic participation in efforts related to global health and the spread of democracy. There she works on the Adopt-A-Landmine program, which seeks to remove landmines from areas of the Middle East and Asia. She is also serving as a research analyst intern at the Conference Board, where she is working on an annual report on corporate philanthropy.

While she hopes that one of these will turn into a full-time marketing job, she is also interviewing with market research firms. She would love to have a position that allows her to travel, but is more concerned with gaining corporate experience to prepare her for graduate school and her other long-term endeavors.

“Eventually, I’ll get my Ph.D.,” she said, “but first I want to get some professional experience.”

Thus far, the Fordham alumni network has proved most useful in developing leads—Stavros has talked to and interviewed with alumni who work in international marketing and advertising.

“I’m so happy to have the Fordham contacts.” she said. “Fordham alumni have been very resourceful for me.”

Stavros’ ultimate goal is to incorporate her business training with the background of service fostered at Fordham by establishing a nonprofit agency. She envisions a program serving urban youth, designed to enhance each child’s personal development by focusing on their physical, emotional, spiritual and even occupational needs.

Stavros said her goal isn’t completely original—it is inspired by her Fordham experience.

“Fordham provides opportunities to nurture all aspects of yourself,” she said. “It’s all out there. It’s up to you to take advantage.”

—- Megan O’Hare

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