Michael Pikuza

Michael Pikuza, the grandchild of World War II refugees from Lithuania and Poland, grew up in the Chicago suburbs and earned a BA in international relations from Lewis University. As a student and a professional, he has devoted himself to understanding history, culture, society, and the importance of diversity and humanitarian outreach. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova from 2017 to 2019 and as a delegation liaison for South Africa for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. 

Before coming to Notre Dame, Michael worked in Spain as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant. He speaks Spanish and Romanian and has studied Russian, German, and Japanese. As a graduate student, he aims to become an agent of empowerment to promote social and economic opportunity through education, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue. As a master of global affairs student, Michael is the recipient of a Coca-Cola Global Affairs Fellowship.