Chris Murphy is a second-year Master of Arts in Asian Studies student from Michigan. Before MASIA he attended Yenching Academy at Peking University and has worked in both China and Germany. While in MASIA, he has worked as a China Analyst in the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Why did you choose to pursue a graduate degree in Asian Studies at the SFS?
I explored a few other graduate programs, but for me Robert [Robert Lyons; Asian Studies Program Director of Academic Programs & Operations] was a defining factor. Something I also appreciate about the SFS is that it is very practical. Other Asian Studies programs felt to me like they were just repeating my experience from Yenching, so I wanted something more practical. I feel that being in D.C. around all of the think tanks was extremely useful, particularly while looking for a job and even helped me get published in Foreign Policy. The network is just simply too valuable for where I want to be in life.
What has been your favorite class you’ve taken while here?
I would have to choose between either Professor Sheila Smith’s seminar on Asia’s Nationalisms or Professor Medeiros’s class on Fundamental Dynamics of U.S.-China Relations. Asia’s Nationalisms helped me rethink how I approached the concept of nationalism and confront my presupposed notions of it. It also helped me understand the logic of people that needed to be aware that they were colonized and how it woke up them to engage in this discourse in such an intellectual capacity. Meanwhile, I also really liked Professor Medeiros’s class because it pushes you, in a very practical sense, to be ready for the job market. He is a very good professor that holds you accountable to get the skills you need to stand on your own two feet in D.C., and he’s not afraid to share it.
What are you looking forward to this semester?
From a personal perspective, I’m very excited. What I love about MASIA is that it’s intensive during the first year, but the second year is really about you. What I’m looking forward to this semester is transitioning, getting ready to enter the workforce in a gentle, relaxed way. I think the program really set me up to do it this way, and I’m looking forward to fully embracing the opportunities of the city after graduation.
What are you hoping to do with your degree?
I’m still in the process of finalizing that, but I hope to continue studying China, hopefully in a position where I can make a meaningful influence.
What’s been your favorite part of the MASIA experience?
My favorite part of my MASIA experience has been how supportive the program is. It’s very close-knit and intimate, and everyone else is extremely endearing and caring. There’s no competition or aggression, it’s very friendly and truly has been both a safe space and community for me.
What is your favorite part about Georgetown or D.C. as a whole?
Everyone that I talk to is smart, no matter what corner of the city they’re from. Everyone here is passionate and has a story, and as someone from the Midwest where it’s slow-paced, seeing people pursue their dreams and being motivated and encouraged to do so is very powerful. It’s been a big motivating factor, and I truly just love being here.
