REFERRAL: Race, Gender, and Foreign Relations: Bridging a Pitt Law Education, National Security, International Legal Practice, and Fiction Writing

Nicole Breland Aandahl (JD '01) will discuss her novel Motherland, a thriller set in 1968 Washington, D.C., that explores the intersection between the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and gender inequity. The book builds on Nicole's background in Soviet Union studies, her work in national security, her lived experiences, and her parents' experience in 1968 Washington, D.C.
Nicole will discuss her research process, inspiration, and how her time at Pitt and study in Ukraine (during her JD education) impacted her work. She will also answer questions about her career track to becoming the first General Counsel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., where she previously served as CSIS's senior Vice President for people and culture, which included the Human Resources department and Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs (DLIA) project.