Inspiration in Nuance

Lucas Ruiz December 19, 2024

It is difficult to articulate the inspiration I have derived from my colleagues on the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. However, it all started long before I knew whether I had been chosen as a Scoville fellow and, for that matter, what my host organization would be.

As a first-generation college student who transferred to the University of Connecticut from my local community college, I struggled to navigate the complexities of higher education and career preparation. There is no handbook for forging one’s path. However, many know how impactful Professors or courses can be of igniting interest. In my case, the spark was a history seminar called The Rise of U.S. Global Power, which explores the history of U.S. foreign relations throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries. 

Taught by Frank Costigliola, a professor with over 50 years of accumulated expertise in diplomatic history, the course challenges students to test their assumptions about American statecraft and to understand the gravity of policy decisions based on alternative options not taken. I took the seminar in the spring of 2022, against the backdrop of the unfolding Russian invasion of Ukraine. The passionate debates that transpired about the U.S. approach to the conflict and more broadly about U.S. policy would have given an unknowing observer the impression we were an extension of the National Security Council, not a group of undergraduates. By creating a space for students to test their ideas through these debates, Professor Costigliola, or Frank, as I call him, demonstrated the importance of listening and participating in constructive dialogue on policy issues. He showed me that my voice mattered.

Staying after class to speak with Frank, I learned about policy, career paths, and our similar experiences as first-generation college students. Along the way, I gained a mentor and friend who challenged me to work hard, dream big, and never forget the path it took to get here. Frank encouraged my pursuit of a career in the peace and security field, including my application for the Scoville Fellowship, holding me accountable to myself throughout the process.

Once selected as a finalist, I committed myself to keeping an open mind and avoiding any attachment to a program or organization. That did not last long after I felt an instant connection when I met with Christopher Preble and Evan Cooper of the Grand Strategy program. We talked for an hour as though we were old friends. The scope of the program offered a diversity of projects to contribute to while developing my skills, building a network, and continuing to learn. They promised a unique fellowship experience by encouraging the exploration of my interests in diplomatic statecraft and nuclear weapons policy. It was too good of an opportunity to pass over; so good that I turned down the Fulbright grant I won to teach English in South Korea in favor of completing the full nine months of my Scoville Fellowship at Stimson—a choice I do not regret.

So, when I faced a tough decision about my post-fellowship plans, I had the familiar feeling of doubt and anxiety creeping over me. Questions about what the right choice would be and how it would impact the trajectory of my life swirled around my head. It was overwhelming. Thankfully, like those other times in my life, my colleagues helped to alleviate my concerns. They helped me to break down my thought process, provided their perspective, and supported my decision. They empowered me to take control of the situation by facing a hard choice head-on. 

Throughout my time at Stimson, I have been inspired by my colleagues to make the most of my unique experience. As Frank would put it, inspiration without action is wasted potential. This was particularly true when it came to building a network. A student of history himself and something of a linchpin within the restraint-minded U.S. foreign policy think tank community, Chris guided me as I built out my fledgling network. Always willing to offer a helping hand, he connected me with figures like Stephen Wertheim, whose career and work I have admired for some time but who seemed outside of my reach as a junior member of the community.

One quick email from Chris and I had a meeting booked with Stephen for the following week. If not for the privilege of being a Scoville Fellow, I doubt that I would have had the same opportunity at this stage in my career. Beyond the professional level, my colleagues have also inspired me on a personal level, often without knowing. I pride myself on working hard, sometimes to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, but I, like all people, have doubted myself at times. I have been fortunate to have people who, during those low points, helped me pick up the pieces and get back in the saddle. Without those people and innumerable lucky breaks, I would not be in the position I am in today. 

In all, I was inspired by their generosity. Without their counsel, I might have languished in my uncertainty until the decision was practically made for me. They reminded me that seemingly routine interactions can profoundly influence another person.

Lucas Ruiz is a Fall 2024 Scoville Fellow with the Stimson Center.