By Khaleel Seecharan, News Writer, MC/MPA ‘12
The 2012 Mid-Career class at the Kennedy School is a diverse group of students from across the world and across many fields. Numbering just under two hundred, more than half the class is comprised of international students. A fair number of the international students are Edward S. Mason fellows who come from developing, transitional economies or newly industrialized countries and study alongside the Mid-Career students.
Students in the class entertain aspirations of running for public office, have started and successfully lead their own companies, hope to champion social causes, and plan to return to their home countries to promote social and economic development, among numerous other interests. They are all united in their hope that HKS will provide them the necessary tools to pursue their respective endeavors.
The Citizen sampled a few students on why they came to HKS and what their plans are afterwards:
Juliet Asante, Mason Fellow, Mid-Career 2012
1. What were you doing before you came to HKS?
Media and women advocate. Media content producer.
2. What country are you from? Ghana
3. Why did you come to HKS? To expand my horizon and have another enriching experience.
4. What do you want to do after? Continue my work and explore public office.
Sharon Avraham-Weiss, Wexner Fellow, Mid-Career 2012
1. What were you doing before you came to HKS?
Attorney- Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner.
2. What country are you from?
Israel
3. Why did you come to HKS?
To become more professional with wider horizons.
4. What do you want to do after?
Go back to the Public service in Israel.
Samaa Hosny, Mason Fellow, Mid-Career 2012
1. What were you doing before you came to HKS?
I was teaching at Cairo University and volunteering with several NGOs in development-related projects.
2. What country are you from?
Egypt
3. Why did you come to HKS?
To learn the skills I need to start a new concurrent career in non-profits and network with worldwide leaders to help and learn from each other.
4. What do you want to do after?
Start a non-profit organization for raising awareness and capacity building to contribute to a better new post-revolution Egypt.
Linda Forry, Mid-Career 2012
1. What were you doing before you came to HKS? 
I was and continue to serve as a state representative for the 12th Suffolk disctrict in Massachusetts.
2. What country are you from?
I am a first-generation American, my parents immigrated here from Haiti.
3. Why did you come to HKS?
I came to HKS to explore areas of study that I need to strengthen.
4. What do you want to do after?
I plan to continue serving my constituents and helping people in my daily work.
Ellen Kwame Corkrum, Mid-Career 2012
1. What were you doing before you came to HKS? 
I’ve spend a number of years as a commercial airline jet pilot and as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the United States military, and recently obtained my MBA from MIT Sloan prior to coming to HKS.
2. What country are you from?
I was born in Liberia and I am also a US citizen.
3. Why did you come to HKS?
Given the political and economic climate in Liberia, I am enthusiastic that the MBA and MPA will align me with necessary skills to help with the continued effort currently in place by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in rebuilding Liberia; hence my interest to come to HKS.
4. What do you want to do after?
I will, no doubt, work in Liberia and as we participate in and witness the results of our 2nd upcoming election post-civil war; I will continue to shape the best role that I play in the democratic and economic movement forward in Liberia.