In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sarah Parmar (’02) about her journey from growing up on a ranch in southern Arizona to a career shaping water policy and community engagement.

Sarah’s path has been defined by a deep connection to place, culture, and conversation—from early experiences in Douglas, Arizona, to shifting her academic focus at ASU and ultimately building a long career in nonprofit work centered on natural resources. Her perspective bridges the worlds of land management, water conservation, and community dialogue, emphasizing the importance of listening across differences.

In this interview, Sarah discusses how community and culture shape policy decisions, what it means to build a long‑term career in nonprofit work, and how inclusive conversation can drive more sustainable approaches to water and land use.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — A day in the life of 10‑year‑old Sarah

• 4:49 — Childhood dinner table conversations

• 7:40 — Border culture and growing up in Douglas

• 10:24 — The value of staying in Arizona

• 13:08 — Giving yourself permission to explore

• 15:23 — Why she switched to economics

• 19:22 — Reflecting on the Fulbright decision

• 25:33 — Staying at one organization for 18 years

• 30:23 — Choosing the right nonprofit

• 32:01 — What policymakers get right and wrong about water rights

• 34:59 — Misconceptions between land and water communities

• 38:03 — Returning to the family ranch

• 43:02 — Addressing AI’s resource impact through policy

• 47:58 — Uplifting underheard voices

• 51:36 — The role of private landowners

• 55:09 — Rethinking approaches to water resources

In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alex Lau (’03) about his winding path through filmmaking, storytelling, and creative leadership.

Alex’s career spans documentary filmmaking, political campaigns, startups, and large‑scale corporate media environments. From landing an early whale shark-filming gig through Craigslist to working on a presidential campaign and ultimately leading creative production at Meta, his journey reflects both the highs and lows of working in a competitive, fast‑changing creative industry.

In this interview, Alex discusses how good storytelling transcends industries, what he learned from moments of professional defeat and reinvention, and how creatives can navigate uncertainty while building resilient, values‑driven careers.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Background, upbringing, and family history

• 3:05 — Choosing college over the family business

• 5:18 — Early mindset and academic direction

• 9:03 — Landing the first professional filmmaking job

• 13:22 — What makes storytelling work across clients

• 15:42 — Working on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign

• 21:18 — Processing the election aftermath

• 23:43 — Lessons from startup challenges

• 28:07 — Executive production and creative work at Meta

• 31:13 — Organizational change and AI in production teams

• 33:04 — Key challenges for corporate media teams today

• 34:07 — Advice for navigating anxiety and career uncertainty

In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sara Castro, Ph.D. (’95), about her path from Flinn Scholar at Arizona State University to a career at the intersection of intelligence, academia, and national security.

Sara began her journey with early ambitions in journalism before a pivotal decision to study Chinese reshaped her career toward international relations and intelligence analysis. She went on to serve as a CIA analyst, supporting policymakers through rigorous evaluation of evidence, before pursuing a PhD to examine deeper questions about Chinese ideology and U.S.–China relations. Today, she teaches military officers, helping future leaders understand China on its own terms within an increasingly interdependent global system.

In this interview, Sara discusses how language study shaped her career path, what intelligence analysis actually entails behind the scenes, and why teaching strategic thinking requires resisting assumptions and bias.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Early career aspirations and education

• 2:37 — Learning Chinese and changing career direction

• 5:43 — Experiencing the legacy of early PRC systems in China

• 15:06 — Becoming a CIA analyst and dispelling common myths

• 25:25 — Evaluation and promotion at the CIA

• 27:48 — Analyst briefing and preparation techniques

• 31:52 — Leaving the CIA for academic research

• 33:57 — Insights from the Dixie Mission and U.S.–China relations

• 41:10 — Teaching China to military officers

• 44:34 — Xi Jinping, ideology, and grand strategy

• 48:00 — Global interdependence and global enemies

• 50:52 — Shared human values across cultures

• 52:13 — Choosing discomfort as a path to growth

In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alexis “Lexi” Darby (’15) about her winding academic and professional path—from switching majors repeatedly at ASU to pursuing and ultimately leaving a PhD program in biomedicine.

After stepping away from academia, Lexi discovered a fulfilling career in executive search, where she now works with emerging leaders and senior executives across multiple industries. Her journey reflects a commitment to values‑driven decision‑making, honest self‑assessment, and the courage to pivot when needed.

In this interview, Lexi discusses navigating nonlinear career paths, the importance of aligning work with personal values, and how the Flinn community has supported her through major transitions.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Flinn Scholar experience and choosing ASU

• 3:06 — The “three‑in‑one” undergraduate major

• 5:34 — Deciding to pursue a PhD

• 7:42 — Realizing medicine wasn’t the right path

• 14:56 — Transitioning into executive search

• 28:21 — Standing out in the job market

• 32:25 — Over-indexing on achievement and rebalancing

• 35:26 — Identifying and aligning with personal values

• 44:45 — Daily joys in her work

• 47:13 — Qualities of a future CEO

• 49:08 — Inspiring interviews from an interviewer’s perspective

• 51:43 — Navigating career transitions

• 55:15 — Utilizing the Flinn community

In this conversation between Flinn alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) and Eric Jackson (’93), Eric reflects on how a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut shifted after a memorable NASA launch delay—and how that moment opened the door to an unexpected path in linguistics.

His career has taken him from Moscow to rural China, working in language documentation, NGO roles, and computational linguistics while navigating life and partnership abroad.

In this interview, Eric discusses his global work in language and culture, the impact of Flinn‑funded travel on his academic journey, and how emerging technologies are reshaping career opportunities at the intersection of linguistics and AI.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Eric’s current role in linguistics

• 2:42 — The Flinn Scholarship and early career plans

• 5:16 — NASA internships and unexpected career pivots

• 12:12 — Transitioning to linguistics in Moscow

• 17:25 — Understanding the field of linguistics

• 19:49 — Pursuing graduate studies in linguistics

• 21:44 — Moving to China: experience and advice

• 29:21 — Life in rural China and cultural insights

• 38:54 — Transitioning from NGO work to teaching

• 49:29 — Breakthroughs in computational linguistics

• 51:51 — Challenges of working with Chinese colleagues

• 53:59 — Words that should exist in English

• 55:40 — Language learning and pronunciation skills

• 57:32 — Advice for a career in linguistics and AI

In this engaging Alumni Hour interview, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) sits down with Paul Burkhardt (’86), the newly appointed president of Naropa University, for a wide‑ranging conversation about leadership, learning, and purposeful work.

Paul’s path has taken him from living in the Bahamas and teaching scuba diving to senior roles at Arizona International College, Prescott College, and now Naropa, where he continues to advocate for holistic and student‑centered education.

In this interview, Paul discusses lessons from leading educational institutions through change, the strengths of alternative and experiential learning, and how creativity and Eastern philosophy have shaped his approach to leadership and personal growth.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Introduction

• 1:18 — Paul’s love for boats

• 2:41 — Introduction to the Flinn Scholarship

• 7:42 — Choosing a major and early career advice

• 12:33 — Career path that brought Paul to Arizona

• 20:10 — Leading the closure of Arizona International College

• 22:10 — Strengths of alternative education models

• 25:04 — Advice for Flinn Scholars at large universities

• 27:22 — Paul’s study abroad experience

• 31:19 — What makes Naropa University distinctive

• 35:12 — Embracing creativity and overcoming fear

• 37:21 — The role of a university president

• 43:12 — How Eastern philosophy influenced Paul’s path

• 47:17 — Student fit and recruitment at Prescott College

• 50:49 — Transitioning from teaching to administration

• 55:11 — Higher education trends and the value of interpersonal skills

In this episode of Alumni Hour, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) sits down with Wylie Timmerman (’06) to explore the many directions his academic and professional journey has taken since graduating.

Wylie has worked across policy, data science, and technology, with experiences ranging from international study programs to roles at the AFL‑CIO and fast‑growing private companies, all while navigating major transitions between disciplines and sectors.

In this interview, Wylie discusses how living abroad shaped his worldview, what it takes to maintain strong networks through relocations, and whether pursuing a graduate degree in data science is worth the investment.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Introduction

• 1:12 — First semester at ASU

• 4:33 — Sticking with political science

• 7:57 — First job after college

• 11:44 — The San Francisco fellowship

• 20:26 — Master’s program projects

• 22:17 — Getting a job after grad school

• 25:22 — Working in a fast‑growing firm

• 30:23 — Private vs. public sector work

• 33:32 — AI, coding, and job security

• 38:07 — Flinn travel experience

• 39:58 — Living and working in China

• 42:09 — Work–life balance with a family

• 45:07 — Maintaining networks

• 48:36 — Is a data science graduate degree worth it?

In this Alumni Hour episode, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) interviews Ryan Johnson (’02), co-founder and CEO of Culdesac, a company reimagining how we design cities and live together—without relying on cars.

Based in Tempe, Culdesac is the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the United States. Ryan’s career spans venture capital, real estate investing, and leadership roles at McKinsey and Bain Capital, all of which shaped his passion for building sustainable, people-centered communities.

In this interview, Ryan discusses his journey through startups and urban innovation, the challenges of scaling car-free development, and how his Flinn Scholars experience influenced his values around community, mobility, and design.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Introduction

• 2:13 — How the Budapest trip shaped a vision for city design

• 4:05 — Risks of early real estate investments

• 5:44 — Time spent in Brazil after university

• 8:46 — Experience and nature of working at McKinsey

• 16:23 — Role and learning at Bain Capital

• 20:05 — Ryan’s life’s mission

• 25:50 — Culdesac’s elevator pitch

• 26:35 — Challenges of launching Culdesac

• 28:52 — Culdesac’s mission and growth aspirations

• 30:57 — Advice on coping with pressure

• 33:39 — E‑bike recommendations

• 34:36 — Working with city stakeholders on Culdesac

• 37:16 — Building confidence from setbacks

• 39:50 — Activating walkable neighborhoods in cities like Tempe

• 42:16 — Pitching dense, car‑free neighborhoods to skeptics

• 45:10 — Strategies for scaling Culdesac

• 49:26 — Marketing walkable and new urban developments

• 52:21 — Roadblocks for car‑free development in D.C.

• 54:36 — Networking within the Flinn alumni community

• 57:40 — Book and podcast recommendations

Anne Lassen, Vice President of the Flinn Scholars Program, interviews Nesima Aberra (’09) in this Alumni Hour conversation on her work at the intersection of media, social impact, and storytelling.

Based in the DC-Metro Area, Nesima is a writer and digital strategist who currently serves as vice president of digital and content at Change Consulting, with previous roles at The Atlantic and the Center for Public Integrity. Her career reflects a commitment to ethical communication, community-centered narratives, and the power of multidisciplinary creativity.

In this Alumni Hour episode, Nesima discusses how journalism and philanthropy can drive social impact, what ethical storytelling requires in a digital world, and how creative writing continues to shape her personal and professional life.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Chandler roots and family influence

• 3:32 — Applying for the Flinn Scholarship

• 5:31 — Choosing majors at ASU

• 12:13 — First steps after graduation

• 20:45 — Working at The Atlantic and moving on

• 24:54 — Making values‑aligned career decisions

• 27:03 — Networking moments that opened doors

• 29:11 — What movement journalism means

• 31:30 — Navigating ethical storytelling

• 33:14 — A myth about social media and virality

• 34:50 — How to consume media responsibly

• 37:04 — Managing digital overload and fatigue

• 39:05 — Lessons from leading a communications team

• 48:07 — Overcoming writer’s block

• 50:00 — Advice on taking career risks

• 53:16 — Realizing advancement limits at The Atlantic

• 56:01 — What’s next on Nesima’s bucket list

Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) interviews Jake Batsell (’92) in this Alumni Hour conversation exploring his path from student journalist to reporter, author, and journalism professor.

Jake has worked as a reporter for The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times, conducted international reporting in Zimbabwe, authored Engaged Journalism, and now serves as a journalism professor at Southern Methodist University, where he focuses on strengthening ethical practices and audience engagement in modern newsrooms.

In this Alumni Hour episode, Jake discusses the evolving responsibilities of journalists in a digital media landscape, the ethical implications of AI in reporting, and how young people can develop strong media literacy skills.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Introduction

• 0:55 — Jake Batsell’s career journey

• 9:26 — Reporting in Zimbabwe and press freedom

• 15:02 — Free speech in the digital media era

• 19:17 — Finding your voice amid influencers

• 27:17 — Defining success and advice to his younger self

• 31:52 — AI issues facing journalism today

• 36:01 — Media literacy and combating misinformation

• 40:34 — Advice for new journalism majors

• 43:38 — How ownership influences newsroom decisions

• 46:54 — How journalism students have changed

• 50:01 — Transformative writing experiences

• 53:43 — How to find and win competitive internships