Department of Languages

Alumni update: Language and Intenational Trade alumna pursues career in financial industry

Hannah Mills (BA  2010)

Photo of Hannah Mills
Hannah Mills (Image provided.)

The first time I ventured across the Atlantic was to study abroad in the coastal community of Alicante, Spain, during the spring semester of my sophomore year. As a Language and International Trade Spanish major, I wanted to be as immersed in the Spanish language and culture as possible. Fortunately, Clemson had a direct exchange program with La Universidad de Alicante, which allowed me to enroll in courses taught entirely in Spanish with native-speaking students.  I was even able to take French courses taught in Spanish to earn credit toward my French minor.

I received a grant to do an internship abroad through the Honors College; so I went to Paris the summer after my junior year to intern at the U.S. Embassy. I spoke in French full-time for three months and was tasked with photographing and archiving all of the antique furniture owned by the US government in Paris. I even had the chance to meet President Obama, while he was visiting the Embassy.

The exposure to Europe during my undergraduate studies inspired my choice to attend the Grenoble Graduate School of Business at their satellite London campus. Being the only American student in the International Business program gave me an academic experience I will never forget; it also piqued my interest in finance.

Following graduate school, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in the financial industry. I currently work in investor relations at a credit asset management firm, Golub Capital. The opportunities, encouragement, and support that I was given by the Language and International Trade program, and especially Professor Touya, put me on track to the career I have always wanted.