Anthony Aslou ('16), analyst with the U.S. Department of State

Anthony Aslou is a graduate of the Paris School of International Affairs. In 2016, he completed his MA in International Security with concentrations in Middle East Studies and Intelligence Studies. After graduating, he moved to Washington, D.C. and is now an Analyst with the U.S. Department of State.

Prior to studying in Paris, Aslou’s ties to Washington had already been established, having worked in the city for a number of years. However, coming out of Sciences Po, his professional path advanced through networking and persistence.

“Shortly after graduation, I worked as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Energy. One of my friends from Sciences Po introduced me to their colleague some time ago, and after intermittently following up with him for about a year, he notified me of a job opportunity within my current office. I applied for the job, and within a month, stepped into my current role with the U.S. Department of State.”

In that role, Aslou works within the Bureau of Counterterrorism, identifying and designating targets for listing under the Foreign Terrorist Organization authorities, among others. In addition, his team is involved in proposing entities and individuals for listing at the UNSC’s ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List, working closely with partner nations to prevent the support for terrorist organizations around the world.

Aslou sees the role as a window into the U.S. Government and an opportunity to understand U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy. He hopes to eventually leverage the foundation he is building to impact other fields of interest.

“I am using my current experiences to further understand how the U.S. conducts its counterterrorism strategy, and hopefully work on improving it to focus on long-term initiatives centered on global education and women's empowerment in conflict and post-conflict environments.”

While his degree in International Security seems appropriate, Aslou credits Sciences Po for the cultural education that has advantaged him in his professional path.

“I interact with a variety of people, whether coming from different religious, ethnic, political, and social backgrounds, which Sciences Po helped prepare me for with its diverse and qualified student body. Sciences Po brings people together to learn, not just from the professors, but from each other, and this prepared me tremendously for my future endeavors.”

Though no longer a student, Anthony leaves some advice for those who are:

“Enjoy all the moments you have with your peers! Take the time you have to travel, learn from one another, and expand your minds beyond what you may read in the news. The realities of each person’s experiences, as well as what is actually taking place on the ground around the world, are greater teachers than any textbook.

“Be flexible. Opportunities exist all around you to grow personally and professionally, you just have to put in that bit of effort to grab it for yourself.”