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Zarie Riley has one simple piece of advice for the Carter Center’s interns: “Say yes to as much as you can.”

For nearly four decades, the Carter Center’s Education Programs, which encompass interns and graduate assistantships, have offered college students and recent graduates the chance to learn alongside experts at the Center and contribute directly to their meaningful work. In September 2023, Riley stepped into her role as director of the programs, bringing her passion for saying yes with her.

As a resident advisor in her undergrad dorm at Tulane University, Riley spotted a higher-education path she hadn’t considered before: “You can do this professionally — help college students grow up? This sounds like a good idea.”

After graduation, Riley pursued that idea, taking on a one-year internship as a residence director and once again living alongside the students she was guiding. She later enrolled in graduate school at Tulane, working at the School of Public Health while she pursued a master’s degree. Eventually, Riley and her family decided to move to Georgia — and, once again, she looked for a path that would allow her to continue learning, growing, and serving students. Based on her colleagues’ encouragement, she set her sights on Emory University.

As the associate director of academic programs at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, Riley encountered numerous opportunities to grow professionally. She described herself as an “intern for the dean,” learning as much as she could by taking on challenges beyond the scope of her role — a practice she repeated as she pursued her doctorate at Mercer University.

“I was working on a degree, learning how to lead an institution of higher education,” Riley said, “and I asked, ‘Can you let me touch everything you’re working on and learn all of this stuff?’”

Now at The Carter Center, Riley encourages interns — whom she lovingly calls “baby geniuses” because of their impressive resumes — to follow her lead. Whether in one-on-one sessions or through “unsolicited advice,” she coaches students on time management, empowering them to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.

“One thing that stands out to me is the interdisciplinary opportunities available here at The Carter Center,” Riley said. “An intern coming into the development space is going to be touching the peace programs or the health programs, or perhaps communications. That is the epitome of us working together.”

As Riley looks to the future and considers new possibilities for the Center’s Education Programs, she is drawing on conversations with colleagues and past participants to ensure the opportunities remain empowering and enlightening for each new group of students.

“The Carter Center is a launching pad for careers,” Riley said. “I’m here to help students grow professionally and make sure they’re ready for their next experience.”

She also wants to make sure the program prepares them to follow President Jimmy Carter’s example. In his 1976 autobiography, “Why Not the Best?” President Carter shares the story of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover asking him whether he did his best during a job interview. When a young President Carter responded, “No, sir, I didn’t always do my best,” the admiral asked him a final question: “Why not?”

“That’s the beginning of this really great leader,” Riley said. “And so, one thing I want interns to come away with is knowing the difference it makes to show up, say yes, and give your best every time you have the opportunity to do so. So many things are going on in the world, and the difference is going to be the people who do their best work all the time, no matter what.”