Staff Spotlight: Allison Snowden, special projects officer

Working today as a special projects officer at Webster Vienna Private University, Allison Snowden has served for a decade in various roles, including as special assistant to the director and department coordinator. She holds two graduate degrees from WVPU, including a MA in International Relations and an MBA. Before working at Webster Vienna Private University, she worked at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the International Atomic Energy Agency. She is originally from Canada and has two small children, ages three and five.

We caught up with Allison to discuss her take on relocating to Vienna and her experience while a WPVU student:

Can you describe how a typical working day is for you?

The significant part about working on special projects is that my tasks vary, and I don’t really have a “typical“ day! It keeps things interesting, and I have been involved in almost every operational area of the university. Over the last few years, large projects that I have been involved with have been WVPU’s re-accreditation application, quality management processes, and data privacy and management.

How was moving from Canada to Austria for you? What brought you here?

Love brought me here! I met my husband, Florian, while studying abroad at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. When I finished my undergraduate degree back in Canada, I moved to Vienna, where Florian was still studying.

As a university student, what was your favorite class?

International Political Economy, taught by Dr. Eric Frey at WVPU. It is wonderful that he still manages to find the time to teach our students ten years later despite being a managing editor at the Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

What recommendations would you give new WVPU students?

Study Abroad! WVPU is part of both the EU-wide Erasmus network and the Webster Study Abroad Network, so there are plenty of potential destinations. Even if you don’t return with a partner for life as I did, it is a life-changing experience.

What topic/area would you say interests you the most in the International Relations field and why?

International Political Economy. At the crux of economics and international relations, IPE looks at global economic structures, power dynamics, inequality, and how politics shape the global economy and vice versa. It helps us understand critical forces and challenges such as globalization, global economic crises, and political responses to climate change- just to name a few examples.

Any hidden talents you would like to share with the WVPU community?

I am an avid crafter, can water ski, and am a great ice skater (I played ringette, a game like ice hockey, for many years in Canada). Also, I’m an outdoor enthusiast and am great at building campfires!