Daniel Budai

Daniel Budai is a first-year MSFS student from Columbia, Maryland. He is committed to a career in public service because of the unparalleled opportunities that it provides to help people in need. Daniel graduated from American University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies. After his undergraduate work, he fulfilled a year-long term as a Team Leader in the national service program AmeriCorps NCCC. In this role, he oversaw and guided a ten-person group to complete a series of project assignments throughout the United States including staffing a community food bank, supporting refugee resettlement, and building park trail. Daniel then worked for two years in Baltimore, Maryland, as an Employment Specialist at the International Rescue Committee assisting refugees and other displaced people with finding their first jobs in the United States. He specifically helped connect individuals with available opportunities, planned and coordinated job fairs and hiring events suited to their needs and strengths, and collaborated with them to find solutions to the steep challenges that they face. Most recently, Daniel chose to return to school to earn his master’s degree at Georgetown University because of his strong interest in helping to shape United States policy. He is especially interested in someday contributing to successful and productive American engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.