Vigen Ciottone ’20 accepted to top graduate program in international studies

salvetoday Posted On July 29, 2021
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Vigen Ciottone ’20 has been accepted to Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), which is widely considered to be one of the top programs for international studies in the country. “I was absolutely thrilled when I found out,” he said. “I’m still in shock.”

Ciottone said that SAIS was founded in the 1940s to prepare men and women to cope with the international responsibilities of the U.S. following the end of World War II. He is excited for the opportunity to enter this academic legacy, and he also recalls the ways in which Salve Regina prepared him for this new challenge.

When Ciottone first arrived at Salve Regina, he was unsure what he wanted to major in, but his interest was sparked by an international relations class that he took as a first-year student. “I fell in love with it,” he said. “I could not get enough of international relations.”

After that class, Ciottone decided to major in history and political science. While at Salve Regina, he was part of the Nuala Pell Leadership Program and conducted research alongside Dr. Jim Ludes, executive director of the Pell Center. Ciottone also had two internship experiences as an undergraduate: one with a branch of the Raytheon Company in Rhode Island and one with the majority whip of the Rhode Island State House.

Ciottone (third from the left in the back row) was part of the Nuala Pell Leadership Program at Salve Regina.

The SAIS program is the only one of its kind that truly has an international experience, and Ciottone spend his first year in the program in Italy and his second year in Washington, D.C. He is excited that the program allows students to choose two concentrations – one of which is a mandatory emphasis on international economics.

After graduating from SAIS, Ciottone plans to attend law school and eventually pursue a career in public service. He is grateful that it all started at Salve Regina, and he wants to make sure that the faculty and staff know how much he attributes his success to the University.

“Salve was the pinnacle reason to my acceptance to this program, because of what I was introduced to while here,” he said. “Through the faculty [and] the wonderful community in Newport, I was able to open my eyes and open doors to some things I didn’t even imagine. It allowed me to shoot for the stars, so I can’t thank Salve enough.”