Home > Resources and Services > Admissions > Contact Admissions Office
Liana Melchenko, Second-year Management and Institutional Analysis Concentrator
Back to Students, Faculty and Alumni Interviews
Liana is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MIA degree with a concentration in Management and Institutional Analysis. She was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship for outstanding human achievement and leadership and holds a B.A. in Public Law from the Russian State University of Kant, Kaliningrad, Russia and a M.A. in Linguistics from Lund University, Sweden.
Prior to studying at SIPA Liana worked three years for the government of the Kaliningrad region, Russia as a Legal Consultant for the Human Rights Commission representing the Ombudsman authority in national and international court litigations, providing assistance on human rights violations and preparing reports on public policy. Liana also has experience in the non-for-profit sector, she was a project manager of YMCA-AMBER in Kaliningrad, Russia from 2002 to 2004.
Have you taken classes at other Columbia schools?
“I have taken a class at Teachers College and I liked it very much because TC has a different atmosphere and students have a very different perspective on the issues we were studying. I am also taking a class at the Law School and the professor is one of the most knowledgeable persons in the world on European Law. I am really enjoying the opportunity to choose classes from others schools.”
What did you do over the summer?
“I did a summer internship for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London working in an investment project in Kalliningrad, my hometown in Russia. It is a huge project that involves a loan for over 100 million euros for rebuilding water, heating and waste management facilities. My job was to do lobbying and evaluation of the project and I was traveling back and forth between London and Kallinigrad. I really enjoyed this experience, I was able to spend time with my family and help my hometown while applying everything I had learned at SIPA.”
How did you obtain your internship?
“One day I was reading the local newspaper of my hometown and I saw an article about this project and I thought I would love to work in this venture. At that point the project was still an idea, but the size and scope of the project represented an extraordinary opportunity for such a small town.
The purpose of the project at that time was to increase foreign investment and environmental standards in a strategic area that is in the border of the European Union and the sea shore of the Baltic Sea. I was so excited with the project that I decided to call them. At the beginning they were hesitant because the project had not started, but when the agreement was signed in May they called me and invited me to join them. It was a unique opportunity and I was able to apply all the skills I learned at SIPA, particularly the memos of Prof. Lawrence.
Currently, I am doing another internship with the World Economic Forum in the Banking and Capital Markets Team. I am assisting in the preparation of the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to take place in January 2008. This is a world major event to be attended by head of states and business leaders from all over the world.”
What has been the most challenging part of your experience at SIPA?
“The most challenging was economics last year. I did not expect it, I thought it was going to be easier but it wasn't and I have to recognize that is one of the good things SIPA has to offer, its emphasis in economics and statistics in the core requirements.”