BROOK HEFRIGHT

1015 Bath Street, Apt 2  Ann Arbor, MI 48103  USA

+1-734-277-6738 

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Native English speaker fluent in Standard Chinese (Mandarin) (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi score: 7), Russian (Interagency Language Roundtable [ILR] rating: S-4/R-4), and German (ILR: S-4/R-4+), good knowledge of Norwegian (ILR: S-3+/R-3+) and Danish (ILR: S-3+/R-4). Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in linguistics, research focuses on cross-cultural communications. Ten years of experience as a foreign policy analyst focusing on China, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. Excellent research, writing, and project management skills. Areas of expertise include:

  • Political reporting and analysis
  • International relations
  • Human rights and international law
  • Migration and asylum issues

WORK EXPERIENCE

July 2007-Present: Editorial Assistant, Journal of English Linguistics

  • Coordinate all communications among authors, editors, and publishers for an academic journal
  • Format and copy-edit all accepted submissions for publication

1994-2005: Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State

2003-2005: Political-Economic Officer, U.S. Consulate General Chengdu, China

  • Implemented all aspects of U.S. policy in politically sensitive Tibet
  • Used HSK-7 Chinese to interview hundreds of Han Chinese and Tibetan interlocutors
  • Frequently prepared written translations of Chinese government documents and media reports
  • Prepared the U.S. State Department’s annual reports on human rights and religious freedom in Tibet

1999-2001: Country Officer for the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Washington, DC

  • Managed U.S. relations with Georgia, an emerging democracy with a $100 million annual aid budget
  • Used Russian daily in high-level meetings with counterparts from former Soviet Union
  • Prepared on-the-fly translations of government documents for use in arms control negotiations
  • Prepared all analysis for the Secretary of State and other policymakers on developments in Georgia

1997-1999: Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Bonn, Germany

  • Directed visa, passport, and emergency services for a community of 30,000 U.S. expatriates
  • Developed German learned during a year-long exchange program to the ILR S-4/R-4+ level
  • Managed an international staff of ten in a fast-paced, bilingual work environment

1995-1997: Consular Officer, U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg, Russia

  • Opened a new Foreign Service post in a remote and challenging post-Soviet location
  • Learned and used Russian at the ILR S-4/R-4 level
  • Designed work procedures and financial controls to provide visa services to 100 million residents

EDUCATION

2005-Present: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ph.D. Program in Linguistics

  • Research focus:Language contact and language ideology in southwest China
  • Cumulative GPA: 8.025/ 9.00

2001-2003: U.S. Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, VA and Taipei, Taiwan

  • Two-year intensive training course in Mandarin Chinese, achieved professional proficiency

1990-1994: Georgetown University, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service

  • Major: European history and diplomacy, certificate in German public and international affairs
  • Honors: Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa