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When Kirsten Derynioski M'06 reflects on her career, one theme runs throughout: curiosity paired with courage. That combination has taken her from growing up in a small town in Hibbing, Minnesota, to competing as an athlete, to serving in the Army Reserve, to ultimately becoming a recognized expert in Russian and Eastern European affairs. Along the way, �ƹ���Ƶ played a central role in shaping both her confidence and her career trajectory.

A Path Shaped by Curiosity

Derynioski’s first major pivot came as an undergraduate at West Virginia University. Originally pursuing a degree in industrial engineering, she soon realized her interests were elsewhere. With guidance from her advisor, she explored new academic paths and discovered Russian and Slavic studies.

“It set my brain on fire, and I loved it,” she recalled. “It covered literature and everything I had not been exposed to in my engineering curriculum.”

Graduating with a degree in Slavic studies, Derynioski also commissioned as a signal officer in the Army Reserve through . Athletics continued to play a key role in her life, as she competed on the Army Reserve shooting team, later coaching clinics and participating in competitions across the country.

After several years balancing fitness training, Reserve assignments, and frequent relocations with her husband, an active-duty Army officer, Derynioski began thinking seriously about her long-term career. A chance encounter with an advertisement for �ƹ���Ƶ’s graduate programs in Foreign Affairs magazine offered the spark she needed.

“The online aspect was attractive because, with the Army, we were moving every two years,” she explained. “You never knew where you were going to be. �ƹ���Ƶ offered a rigorous program I could take with me anywhere.”

In 2004, she enrolled in �ƹ���Ƶ’s program, completing her degree in 2006 while raising two young children and supporting her husband during a deployment to Iraq.

A Career in Diplomacy and Intelligence

Graduating from �ƹ���Ƶ quickly opened doors. Relocating to the Washington, D.C. area, Derynioski transitioned from defense consulting into intelligence community work.

“I wanted something more,” she says. “When I started working on intelligence contracts, it was fascinating. I was able to operate on all cylinders and use everything I learned throughout my life and in graduate school.”

Her passion for Russian history and culture naturally shaped her focus. Over the past two decades, she has built a reputation as a trusted subject matter expert in Russian and Eastern European affairs

“I’m most proud of being recognized as a person people come to for insights that can’t just be Googled,” Derynioski explains. “I can give someone the feel for what’s normal when we’re looking at another country. What should be expected, and what should raise questions.”

Whether she’s working in the defense or intelligence markets, she credits �ƹ���Ƶ with giving her the academic rigor to think critically and write effectively in high-pressure environments. “The challenge of the program prepared me for the complexity of real-world problem sets,” she said.

The �ƹ���Ƶ Difference

�ƹ���Ƶ’s reputation also gave Derynioski a competitive edge. She remembers her interview at Booz Allen Hamilton shortly after graduation.

“They told me that only �ƹ���Ƶ and maybe one other school were acceptable for distance learning,” she says. “If my degree had been from anywhere else, they wouldn’t have even interviewed me. �ƹ���Ƶ got me in the door, and that made all the difference.”

Her experience also confirmed what she had seen through her husband, a �ƹ���Ƶ undergraduate alumnus: the name carries weight. “The school has a great reputation,” she says. “And it has absolutely helped me throughout my career.”

Lessons Learned and Advice for Future Students

Looking back, Derynioski acknowledges the difficulty of balancing graduate school with family responsibilities. Yet she views the challenge as part of the reward.

“I’ve got a picture of myself with my kids at graduation,” she says. “At the time, my husband was deployed, and I remember thinking my kids had earned the degree too. It was hard, but when you’re in the right program, the difficulty is enjoyable.”

For those considering a similar path, she offers direct advice: “Swing for the fences. If you’re drawn to something, there’s probably a reason. Don’t ignore it. The harder you work on the coursework, the more you’re going to get out of it.”

She also encourages prospective students to choose �ƹ���Ƶ for its challenge: “If you want something easy, go somewhere else. But if you want to be pushed to refine your thinking, writing, and research, �ƹ���Ƶ is the place. That challenge will make you a better professional, a better citizen, and even a better parent.”

A Career and Life Enriched

From Minnesota to Moscow’s shadow, from athletics to intelligence, Derynioski has built a career that combines her passions with meaningful service. She sees her professional journey as a natural extension of her time in uniform.

“Having been in the military, I see my country as my team,” she said. “I’ve always just wanted to move the team forward by making people smarter, making people more effective, or making myself more effective. �ƹ���Ƶ helped me do that.”

Today, with decades of experience and expertise in demand, Derynioski continues to thrive in a field she loves. For her, �ƹ���Ƶ was the foundation of a career dedicated to national service and global understanding.