Malakai Perket is a second-year Master's candidate of Security Policy Studies concentrating in Transnational Security at the Elliott School. Malakai graduated from Macalester College in 2020 with a Bachelor's in Political Science and International Studies with a concentration in Middle Eastern and Islamic Civilizations. They currently work for the U.S. Department of State and have previously interned at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Malakai is interested in asymmetrical warfare, transitional justice, crisis management, and security in the Middle East. In their spare time, Malakai serves on the executive board of the Security Policy Studies Student Board.
What path led you to apply to graduate school? Why did you choose the Elliott School?
When I graduated college in 2020, I knew I wanted to work in foreign policy in some capacity but wasn't sure how to get there or what I wanted that to look like. I took a year off to work for a while and ask myself 1) where do I want to make an impact? and 2) what can I do to make that happen? After reflecting on what I'd enjoyed engaging with most in undergrad and speaking with my former professors, it seemed clear that my best path forward included applying to grad school. I looked at a handful of different schools in the D.C. area, which would put my academic interests near job opportunities that I wanted to pursue. I ultimately landed on the Elliott School for a few reasons: the extensive alumni network, the access to jobs and internships in fields that interested me, and the combination of academics and practitioners that teach courses at Elliott.
What has been your most challenging academic experience at the Elliott School and how did you overcome it?
One of the most challenging academic experiences I've had has been ongoing – reconciling the reality of security policy with various aspects of my identity. Traditionally, security policy has been dominated by specific portions of our population. As a non-binary Arab-American, many of the readings or topics that we would cover in security-focused courses have a very male, Americo-centric perspectives. It often didn't feel like there was room to question what was often taken as an inherent truth. I've learned that in most cases, others aren't going to make spaces for you – you need to make those spaces for yourself. Challenge norms and ideas you don't agree with. Advocate for yourself. As I continue to make my way into new spaces, I try to move others up with me. The more comfortable I've gotten with creating space for myself in areas that traditionally don't, the better I'm able to engage with security policy and what it means for many communities. I've learned the most when I've felt uncomfortable and uncertain; I've just had to remember to be open to the experience.
Where do you currently work, intern or volunteer, and how does it fit in with your career goals?
I'm a Pathways Intern at the Department of State working on International Parental Child Abductions. I've wanted to work at State since I was twelve, so having the opportunity to intern through Pathways has been amazing. I'm most interested in the intersection of security and foreign policy, and how that manifests in our current policy goals and programs. My job allows me to learn about and engage in bilateral relationships and get an inside look at how foreign policy really works, whether it's formulating policy, implementing programs, or serving on a consular task force to evacuate Americans abroad. I've gotten to speak to some fantastic officers all over the Department to learn about various missions and how they are pursued. There's many ways that State engages in its foreign policy goals, and many facets to those goals; my job allows me to explore each of these and choose to pursue which facet aligns with my career goals the most.
Now that you're a graduate student, what do you wish you knew during the graduate application process?
During the application process I had a lot of doubts about whether I should get my Master's and if my timing was right. There will never be a perfect time to go to graduate school – but some times will be better than others. You don't need to rush into it; allow yourself the time to choose carefully and make sure this is a commitment that aligns with your career goals in a meaningful way. You also don't need to have everything figured out right away. I had plenty of preconceived notions of what my grad school experience "should" look like and what I thought I needed to be doing. Nobody's path is going to look the same, and it shouldn't. I've tailored my classes and experiences to my interests rather than what I think looks best on a resume or a transcript. No matter how you get to where you're going, you'll be growing, and it will be uncomfortable. Take the risk and see what happens, but make sure you're doing it for you.
What has been your most valuable experience while studying at the Elliott School?
My tenure on the Security Policy Studies Student Board has been one of my most valuable experiences. I've had some truly incredible experiences and opportunities, such as co-organizing field trips to the Pentagon and the Defense Media Activity, career panels and cross-program happy hours, the FLASHPOINT TAIWAN war game last December, alumni mixers, and other speaker events. I've gotten to meet some amazing individuals and develop my leadership skills in ways I didn't expect when I first got to Elliott. It's taught me how to engage with external organizing partners, lead by example, and stand up for the ideas and beliefs that are important to me. I think most importantly, it's helped me go from a thinker to a do-er. Both are incredibly important, but an idea without the drive to implement it will only ever stay an idea. The community I've found through the Board has also been amazing; there's many people who I wouldn't have met at all if not for engaging with the SPS student body through this student organization.
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate? Explain.
Coincidentally, this has been a fun debate in my office for the last few months and we have not yet reached a resolution. Here's the basic argument: white chocolate is an excellent accent and carrier of other flavors; however, it's not chocolate. White chocolate is purely cocoa butter and sugar. Where is the cocoa? The very soul of chocolate? Chocolate is not chocolate without the actual cocoa (not just the butter!!) in it. White chocolate is most definitely a chocolate by-product and should be disqualified from chocolate-related questions. On that note, I'm all for dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is nice, but it's usually too sweet. I think dark chocolate is better balanced for me and is an equally good "accenting" chocolate in most cases.
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The #WeAreElliott profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights current students to answer common questions posed by prospective, incoming, and current students. For more information on this series or to submit questions, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at esiagrad@gwu.edu.
The views expressed by students profiled do not necessarily represent those of organizations they work for, are affiliated with, or the Elliott School of International Affairs.
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