From Northwest to the World Stage: How a Liberal Arts Degree Prepared Chris Toavs

From Northwest to the World Stage: How a Liberal Arts Degree Prepared Chris Toavs

When Chris Toavs ('22) stood before the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva on May 5, 2025, she wasn't just presenting a petition. She was carrying the voices of millions living with Type 1 diabetes, calling for the inclusion of rapid-acting insulin analogues on the WHO Essential Medicines List.

It was a milestone moment-one that shows how a Northwest University liberal arts education prepares graduates to take their place on the world stage.

Building Global Leaders Through Liberal Arts

Chris graduated from Northwest University as an English major and a member of the first NU Honors Program cohort. She credits her time at NU with giving her the confidence, mentorship, and transferable skills-critical thinking, persuasive communication, cultural awareness, and resilience-that have defined her career.

In an email to her professors just before her WHO address, Chris wrote:

"As I am prepping my statement and practicing my speech, I can't help but think of you all and my time at Northwest for all the lessons and skills it taught me. Thank you will never have enough space to express my feelings to you all-nevertheless I say it with the utmost sincerity and awe."

Those lessons equipped her for graduate study at the London School of Economics, where she earned a Master's in International Health Policy and later gained acceptance into a doctoral program. Today, as Global Advocacy Manager at T1International, Chris leads efforts to make insulin affordable and accessible worldwide.

Proof of the Value of a Liberal Arts Education

Chris Toavs' journey-from NU classrooms to global health policy advocacy-is living proof that a liberal arts degree prepares students for impact. The very skills employers demand today-adaptability, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and ethical leadership-are the same ones that carried Chris from Kirkland to Geneva.

And like Chris, every CAST student has the opportunity to discover not just a career, but a calling-to bring knowledge, faith, and passion to some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Chris Toavs is an outstanding CAST alumna, and her story is a testament to the power of a liberal arts education at Northwest University.