Soldier, Lawyer, Teacher, and Scholar: Professor Ronnie Olesker
When thinking of strong, empowered, and accomplished women on our campus, one of the first to come to mind is Professor Ronnie Olesker. Originally from Israel, she has served in the Israeli army, moved on to practice law, and continued on to receive her Doctorate in Foreign Service from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She now finds herself teaching Government here at SLU.
— When living in Israel, you served in the army. What was a typical day like during your service?
A typical day would include intelligence briefing, monitoring of new information, and preparation of policy memo for our commanders. It would also include (and remember this is the mid 1990s) making coffee for our supervisors.
— Did you ever feel as though you were treated differently or assigned different tasks because you are a woman?
Yes, absolutely. The women were asked to make coffee for the superiors, whereas the male soldiers were never asked to do so. In addition, there was sexism within the organization in terms of assigned tasks. Women were often relegated to the office, and men could go in the field. I found it offensive.
— What inspired you to obtain your law degree?
I watched a show in the 1980s called “L.A. Law” (a sort of predecessor to Law & Order) and thought: this is what I want to do! I always loved arguing ideas, and found that the legal field allowed me to develop my analytical skills and argue for a living. Early on, I was very interested in criminal law and wanted to be a prosecutor, but in my last year of law school I took a class on international law and that became my passion.
— Why did you stop practicing law to pursue another occupation?
It turns out that I loved studying the law but hated practicing it. I was disillusioned with the profession pretty quickly because it consisted of arguing with people all day—this is the basis of the adversarial legal system. In addition, working in the criminal law field, you confront the worse a human behavior everyday: rape, murder, and all the rest. I started to get jaded and believed that human nature was inherently evil, and I just didn’t want that feeling to stick. So, I left the field.
— What brought you to SLU?
The job description fit perfectly with my skills and background. I teach courses on International Politics and the Middle East. I loved the faculty in the Government Department and the students I met on my campus visit. I knew halfway through my campus visit that if the job was offered to me, I’d take it.
— You have stated that your true passion is International Politics and Security Studies, how do you use your previous experiences to incorporate your passions into the classes that you currently teach at St. Lawrence?
My experience in the Israeli Defense Forces has taught me many important analytical skills. In addition, as a lawyer, I learned how formative law is in policy making. As a human right activist, I learn about the devastating effects state security policies can have on other people, and so I incorporate all those lessons into my classroom. For example, when I teach students about the Israeli-Palestine conflict, I am able to offer insight into both the Israeli security establishment policy making, but also into the effects that policy has on the Palestinian people. As an expert on international law, I am able to teach students about how that law shapes how states behave in the international system. In sum, my personal experience really shapes the kind of teaching that I do.
— What was one of the main challenges you face while teaching here at SLU?
The cold! Even though I came from Boston, it was really hard to get used to the winters here. I also miss my family back in Israel, but I love my job here. I have an amazingly supportive community, and I love how close I get to my students and that I can help them exceed their own expectations for themselves. For me teaching is not a job—it’s a vocation.
— What is one piece of advice you would give to any of the young women currently studying at St. Lawrence University?
First, step out of your comfort boundaries. Is there a class or professor that intimidates you? Take that class! It will usually be a worthwhile experience. Second, seek leadership roles—lean in! Run for Thelmo office, then become its President, become involved in the executive board of a campus organization, write for the Hill News, speak out in class. Finally, be an ally, when you see sexism and misogyny, especially after this election cycle, speak up. Teach your male counterpart to be allies too, if they are not already, and find an opportunity to be an ally to others who might be vulnerable.
— From soldier, to attorney, to teacher- it seems like you have done it all. Is there anything you wish you could have done differently, or still wish to accomplish in the future?
On a personal level, if I had not gone the academic route, I would have wanted to be a dancer. From an academic perspective, I wish I had taken more statistics courses. And for the future, I hope to get a PhD in Social Psychology one day– it’s on my bucket list!