Noor Scavotto
About Noor
Noor Scavotto recently graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in International Relations and Public Policy. During her undergraduate career, she was a research assistant at the Global Research Institute, a research intern at Air Combat Command’s International Affairs Unit, and an analyst-intern at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Noor will be starting her professional career in the private sector working on defense and national security issues.
Noor’s Team PIE analyzed and proposed policy solutions for the Philippines’ Energy Crisis, which is centered on oil in the Reed Bank. This problem resonated with Noor, as her prior research with the Global Research Institute had focused on Energy Security in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Based on interviews with beneficiaries throughout the course, the team discovered that the best way to combat the energy security crisis in the Philippines would be to take a multi-faceted approach that included the research, development, and implementation of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Interview
Q: What attracted you to the class?
A: "As someone who was already passionate about national security and defense through the lenses of research and academia, I was intrigued by the application side of the issues that academics and policymakers think about. I wanted to learn how to take what we know, and think critically, creatively, and collaboratively about how to solve global issues. Additionally, I was curious about the relationship between the private and public sectors and felt that H4D would give me a better understanding of how those two worlds interact.”
Q: What value do you feel you got from taking this course?
A: “Beyond the academic environment, I gained from H4D two lessons which I hope to apply in my future professional endeavors. First, I gained from H4D a greater appreciation for the evolution of problem-solving as a process. Following our discussions with beneficiaries, my team’s response to our challenge pivoted what felt like every other day. Learning to have the resilience to accept that the answer (or answers) can change in the blink of an eye is critical to effective problem-solving. I also learned to approach problems with a greater sense of adaptability and creativity, a necessary mindset in today’s ever-changing international landscape. Second, through collaboration with my team, H4D highlighted the importance of versatile leadership. Not everyone will have the same thoughts or feelings towards problems faced and solutions being cultivated. Therefore, being able to “keep afloat” when things get hard begins and ends with open communication and the ability to reach compromise.”
Q: How did the H4D program impact your thoughts about working in government?
A: "As someone who had already worked in an internship capacity with the federal government, taking this course did not impact my thoughts about future federal service. However, the course did provide a more nuanced approach to how the federal government works and collaborates with the private sector and academia, which was something I did not know much about prior. I believe that with the knowledge I acquired through H4D, I am better prepared to pursue a future career in the federal government."