Long Island native Olivia Nakhjavan ’27 spent the last year teaching English at a junior high school in Taiwan. She hopes to use her skills in Mandarin and her interest in global affairs to aid international organizations and legal clients in the future.
What is your hometown and where did you go to college?
I’m from Long Island, NY, and I graduated magna cum laude from Villanova University in May 2023 with a B.A. in economics and global interdisciplinary studies: Chinese studies, and an additional global business concentration.
What led you to apply to law school?
My undergraduate studies—economics, Chinese, and global business—paired with my family background—a grandpa born and raised in Tehran, Iran—sparked an interest in learning more about the intersections between business, government, policymaking, culture, and international relations. Learning about the roles international lawyers take on to manage these relationships in an International Business Law elective at Villanova University pushed me to attend law school.
What made you choose Fordham Law?
Growing up “on” Long Island, I have always envisioned kick starting my career in the global hub of New York City, where my sister, an attorney, currently resides. The city is home to the United Nations and other influential international organizations, providing unmatched opportunities in the field of international law. NYC is also home to the largest concentration of Chinese people in the western hemisphere and the largest Chinatown in the United States. I envision myself heading to Chinatown for authentic meals, community events, and language practice to continue building skills vital for my future career fostering cross-cultural connections.
Not only does Fordham Law’s location align perfectly with my academic and professional goals, but its exceptional opportunities do as well. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating with professors such as Professor Carl Minzner, whose role as senior counsel for the Congressional-Executive Commission on China would grant me insight into the world of policymaking. Similarly, I am eager to learn about Professor Martin Flaherty’s human rights missions to China, as aiding those around the world deeply resonates with me, evident by my roles serving as Villanova’s director of Operation Smile and PR chair of She’s The First. Practicing cross-cultural conflict resolution through participation in extracurricular activities, such as the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, will allow me to hone the skills necessary for success in my future career.
What do you hope to do with your law degree in the future?
My aspiration is to aid international countries, organizations, and clients, with a particular focus on those that speak Mandarin. My ambition is to become an advocate for international clients, organizations, firms, and countries, securing favorable outcomes for those affected by global business practices, international policies, and human rights issues.
What is something interesting about you that people may not know?
As a 2023-24 U.S. State Department Fulbright Grant Recipient, I spent the past year teaching English in Taiwan. I taught 7th grade students at Xing Ya Junior High School in Taipei.
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