Thanks to the generosity of Lee and Sally Posey, the Posey Global Leadership Fellows Program has given our students the chance to step into the world and learn by doing, said Dr. Derick (Sandy) Hulme, Professor of Political Science at Alma College and director of the program. These experiences push students to confront global issues, build relationships across cultures, and return with a clearer sense of purpose and direction. That impact stays with them long after they leave Alma.

The program helps students from all areas of study at Alma College participate in internships around the world. This year, many of those students gathered together to help P-Global celebrate 20 years of supporting nearly 600 fellows in 57 countries as they expanded their learning and practiced their skills in real-world situations.

Alumna Elizabeth Libby Flatoff, is originally from Highland, Michigan, and graduated in ’21 with degrees in Political Science, Spanish, and International Affairs, then earned a master’s degree from the Middlebury Institute in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. She talks about what she’s doing now, and how her P-Global experience paved the way.

Libby: I work for the Arms Control Association, where we focus on nuclear weapons disarmament advocacy. It’s something I first became interested in through Alma’s Model UN team. My P-Global experience was connected to Model UN as well. I
participated in the India program…teaching Model UN concepts in schools. That experience really helped shape my interest in
this work. If you had asked me as a freshman whether I’d end up working on nuclear weapons disarmament, I would have said
absolutely not.

Interviewer: What do you do specifically at the Arms Control Association?

Libby: We publish a monthly journal called Arms Control Today, and I write for it regularly. My title is Program and Policy Associate, so I also coordinate a lot of our policy and program work. That includes outreach on Capitol Hill. I meet with Senate and House offices to discuss nuclear weapons policy and spending. We also facilitate the Arms Control Working Group,
which brings together congressional staff and nonprofit organizations working on arms control issues. We meet about once a month to discuss priorities and ways we can support one another’s efforts.

Interviewer: You mentioned programmatic work. What does that involve?

Libby: We organize events and educational programming throughout the year. For example, during the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we organized events focused on education and amplifying voices of the Hibakusha—the survivors of those bombings—so people better understand the dangers of nuclear weapons. We bring in experts and diplomats to discuss current global issues. Recently, I attended the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations in New York.

Interviewer: Given everything happening in the world lately, I imagine it’s been a busy and stressful time, but your work sounds interesting and impactful. Tell me more about your experience in India with the Posey Global Leadership Fellows Program.

Libby: I spent about eight weeks teaching grades seven through eleven at Shiv Nadar Schools, alongside several other Alma students. We covered political science topics including diplomacy, climate change, international affairs, and discussed
how global events affect people’s lives. The final two weeks were devoted to a Model UN conference. We helped students write position papers, prepare speeches, and develop their public speaking and leadership skills. Outside the classroom, we traveled, visited different sites, and experienced Indian culture. It was an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in a very different environment.

Interviewer: Earlier, you mentioned that your current work connects closely with your Model UN experience, particularly the NPT Review Conference. Can you explain that connection?

Libby: The NPT Review Conference takes place every five years and brings together countries that are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Countries without nuclear weapons agree not to pursue them, while countries that already possess nuclear weapons commit to eventually pursuing disarmament. The review conference is where countries assess progress and
discuss future commitments. During my time on Alma’s Model UN team, I participated in a simulation of the NPT Review Conference. Delegates were drafting language, negotiating agreements, and debating policy positions. We essentially recreated the real diplomatic process. Looking back, it was remarkably similar to the work I do today.

Interviewer: Do you see yourself doing this kind of work long-term?

Libby: Definitely. I enjoy policy work, whether that’s with an NGO like the Arms Control Association or potentially in government
someday. I especially enjoy the nonprofit space because it gives me more freedom to focus on issues I care about and advocate for them directly.

Interviewer: It seems like the program served as a training ground for many of the things you’re doing now.

Libby: Absolutely. The connection isn’t just diplomacy and multilateralism—it’s also education. When I entered college, I had no interest in becoming a teacher. But my experience in India changed how I think about education…a significant part of my work involves helping people understand complex issues. There’s often a perception that topics like nuclear disarmament, climate change, artificial intelligence, or international diplomacy are too big for ordinary people to influence. Teaching in India helped me learn how to break those issues down and show people that their voices matter. Today, that’s a major part of what I do.

Watching those students grow over just eight weeks was incredible. Seeing them ask questions, develop opinions, and engage with major world issues showed me the power of education. Even though I didn’t become a teacher, the experience fundamentally changed how I think about educating and empowering others, and I use those lessons every day in my work.