Peer Adviser Spotlight: Fareed Abdullah MIA ’24

Fareed Abdullah is a US diplomat and a current MIA candidate at SIPA. Fareed spent 15 years working with the U.S. Department of State in various countries worldwide, focusing on public diplomacy and political affairs in Iraq, Senegal, China, Libya, the UAE, and the US Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Fareed is using his time at Columbia University to think and write about his experience as a practitioner of foreign affairs and to gain a more thorough understanding of how the theories of international relations affect not only the bilateral and multilateral approaches to diplomacy but also the human-to-human connection that is often neglected at the higher levels. He hopes to leave SIPA with fresh ideas to tackle salient global issues. Fareed earned a BA in International Affairs from the University of Georgia. He speaks English, French, Arabic, and Mandarin Chinese.

Fareed’s advice to SIPA students: “This is the best time to step out of your comfort zone and do new things. See that show, listen to that song or speech, dance in that park, or read that book. This is the worst time to practice being a lone wolf (unless that is what your energy is up for). Your professors are cool, and it’s okay to genuinely be interested in their area of expertise. Reach out to them. Reach out to classmates. Schedule that coffee, even if it sounds a bit formal.”

• Seeples Group: B
• Degree: MIA
• Concentration: USP
• Specialization: TMAC