Stanford Scholar Combines Military Service and Academic Research
Stanford Scholar Combines Military Service and Academic Research
Oriana Skylar Mastro has built two careers simultaneously: one as an academic, the other, as a service member in the U.S. Air Force.
This story was originally reported by Melissa De Witte for Stanford News.
Some people learn by doing. Stanford scholar and alum Oriana Skylar Mastro, BA ’06, is one such learner: As an undergraduate student at Stanford studying the Chinese language in the East Asian Studies program, she took a year off and went to the country to immerse herself in its culture. Then, as a doctoral student wanting to know more about security issues facing the U.S. military in the Asia Pacific, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where she continues to serve today.
Since joining the military over a decade ago, Mastro has built a career combining scholarship and service.
“I love being in uniform, I love working as a team and I love feeling like my research and expertise give back somehow,” said Mastro, now a fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI).
