Meet Stephan Modest

Open-minded, curious and brave. That’s part of Stephan’s formula for overcoming his own biases and prejudices to be able to learn and grow.

Originally from Germany and fluent in three languages, Stephan moved to Canberra to study his Master of International Relations at ANU. With an Economics and Computer Science background, he enumerated several reasons why he chose ANU. The IR program ranked #6 in the world at the time, and the Coral Bell School of Asia and the Pacific is well renowned for its amazing think tanks and world-leading academics.

“I loved meeting new people from around the world and the ANU environment was the perfect place to do so. I feel extremely privileged to be a part of this diverse community”. Stephan’s student experience was unforgettable. He was an International Student Ambassador for ACT Government – Study Canberra. This opportunity allowed him to get involved in the coordination of various social and sports activities to motivate domestic and international students to study in Canberra.

Additionally, he feels proud of his time as a student representative. He appreciates the great community and network he built with students and academics. “Being a student rep gave me the window to advocate for students and understand their concerns”.

Stephan was also the profiler and photographer for ‘Faces of the ANU’ and ‘ANU+’ Facebook pages. He describes the experience as a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and expand his horizons. “I am grateful for all my friends and everyone’s trust in sharing their stories with me”.

Stephan is full of amusing surprises. On his graduation day in July 2019 he proposed to his girlfriend Salonie Dua who was also graduating from the Master of International Relations. Their love story was showcased on ANU Reporter and you can delight yourself reading about their story here

If he has to give a piece of advice to any ANU student, it would be “get out of your comfort zone, experience and explore the world around you. Take risks, be foolish, be curious and be proud of yourself! Life is a journey that takes you to unexpected places and by the time you reach your destination, you are no longer the same person you were when you started the journey”.

For more information about the Master of International Relations visit the website here.