Name: Krithiga Narayanan

Home Country: India

Degree: Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR)

Scholarship: Public Service Fellow

Before joining the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), what were you doing?

Before joining SAIS, I worked as a multi-platform journalist in international news organizations, such as DW, BBC, and other regional Indian news outlets. Over the years I have taken on various journalistic roles, including that of a news presenter, foreign correspondent, and short documentary producer. I have reported on a wide range of topics including international affairs, business, gender, and climate but, out of all of these topics, I am most passionate about the intersection of gender and the environment within journalism.

I earned my first masters degree in international journalism from City, University of London, while working for the BBC World Service as a live TV and radio presenter and producer in their Tamil language service. Just one month before coming to SAIS, I completed the CNN Rockefeller Foundation Global South Climate Reporting Fellowship, where I reported on the rising sea level’s impact on women in India’s coastal communities. I am also a United Nations Reham al-Farra Journalism Fellow, IMF Youth Fellow, and Earth Journalism Network Fellow.

What led you to Johns Hopkins SAIS?

I wanted to take a more active role in public policy. As a journalist, I was seeing the real-world impact of policy and diplomacy on everyday people. I had completed educational programs on public policy and international politics, including one at Oxford University’s St. Antony’s College, but I knew that I wanted to explore these topics much more in depth.

SAIS was my first choice from the beginning. I was impressed and fascinated by the flexibility and intersectionality of the course offerings. This flexibility allows me to delve into the intersections between technology, security, governance, and sustainability much more than the other programs I considered.

What has been your favorite experience at SAIS and why?

I have had a lot of incredible experiences so far and it is very hard to pick just one! To name a few, being selected as a SAIS social media ambassador has been very rewarding. It has helped me keep the journalistic spark alive.

Also, the learning experience at SAIS has truly been unlike any other. We are learning from professors who have such extensive experience and expertise. In my current international environmental law class, I am learning from Professor Daniel Magraw and guest lecturers like the legal scholar Edith Brown Weiss.

Lastly, the diversity of the SAIS student community is really enriching. The students come from all over the world and really alters the entire learning experience. We are not just learning from the faculty, but also one another.

What do you plan on pursuing after graduation?

I strongly believe that journalism and public policy are two sides of the same coin. Throughout my career, I have worked towards creating a more just world.

I have done this through my journalism and also through other initiatives like being an editor and interviews contributor for Women in Foreign Policy, an NGO which inspires young women to take up leadership roles in the foreign policy space. Through this platform I interviewed so many inspiring women from around the world including the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili. I was also recently part of a Political Fellowship named after India’s first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which aims to increase the political participation of women in India.

As I transition towards a career in public policy, I am confident that the SAIS education and network of support will give me the strongest possible foundation to continue this work.

What is one piece of advice you would give to students in the process of choosing graduate schools?

Be confident and ambitious with your dreams and aspirations. Coming to SAIS has been a dream come true for me and it is an honor and privilege to be part of its legacy.

Whose support has made your journey to SAIS possible and why?

I come from Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India, and my family lives there currently. My family, especially my mother, has been the pillar of support in my journey to SAIS and I could not have done it without them. My mother motivates and inspires me to become the best version of myself that I can be and that I believe is more important than anything else.