Asher Kalman
I found that industriousness is rewarded at LC. If you make an effort to go to office hours and speak with older classmates to learn what your professors want to see on papers and exams, if you use the writing center and other resources the school offers, your transcript will benefit.
Degree and Class Year
Current City
Major
Extracurriculars
Job Title, Organization
Continuing Studies
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
I attended LC because the school is well-regarded and offered me a generous scholarship.
What have you been doing since graduation?
After graduating, I taught the LSAT for a company called TestMasters, then attended Columbia Law School. I’m currently a corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine and Moore in New York City in the mergers and acquisitions group. I work on transactions for large companies.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for grad school?
I found that industriousness is rewarded at LC. If you make an effort to go to office hours and speak with older classmates to learn what your professors want to see on papers and exams, if you use the writing center and other resources the school offers, your transcript will benefit. This proactive approach worked well for me at Columbia Law.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
That’s a difficult question but perhaps the ability to write more clearly. I graduated a far better writer than I was as an 18 year-old freshman.
Why did you major in International Affairs?
I was on the debate team at the time I chose to major in IA and was interested in a form of debate that focuses on international relations. Majoring in IA seemed like a natural next step. In my first year, I developed a relationship with a former IA professor named Cyrus Partovi who understood my career goals and what I hoped to gain from college coursework. To be candid, I was also well-aware at the time of the importance of GPA for purposes of law school admissions, and the IA department was not known for grade deflation.
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
I’ve stayed in touch with friends, as well as a former professor, Cyrus Partovi, who was my mentor through college and continues to be as I’m lucky enough to remain in contact. Cyrus is a fantastic resource, and the IA department was lucky to have him.
What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?
I’m not sure I had a favorite but I liked different classes for different reasons. Elizabeth Bennett’s International Political Economy was fascinating. Cyrus Partovi’s Middle East Politics included colorful and first-hand accounts of diplomacy. Kyle Lascurette’s Theories provided a bird’s eye view of academic in-fighting.
