Tamara Volozhanina is a JCU alumna (class of 2019) who majored in International Affairs and minored in Communications. In 2020, Tamara co-founded Schloss Krumbach International School (SKIS) in Austria with her family and now serves as Head of Marketing while also teaching a course called Theory of Knowledge.
Tell us what you've been up to since graduating from JCU in 2019.
After graduation, I completed an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy at Oxford, I worked at the United Nations, and at a think tank in the United Arab Emirates.
In 2020, I helped my family found a bilingual (English and German) boarding school in Austria. Our school is quite unique because personal electronic devices are completely banned, taken on arrival and returned only for holidays, while students use school-provided laptops only for academic work.
My mother founded SKIS and shaped its mission from the belief that children deserve a place filled with culture, dignity, kindness, respect, and purpose. A place where they are truly seen. A place where they retain their right to be children, and where education shapes not only the mind, but the character and the heart.
As she was building SKIS, she was also beginning to fight cancer. These two paths started together, and from that moment onward she lived every day with extraordinary courage, working tirelessly, often quietly, far beyond what anyone ever saw.
She passed away very recently. My brother is now Head of School, and I am proud of him for carrying her work forward. We are committed to protecting my mother’s legacy and continuing her mission, including through the Oksana Volozhanina Scholarship in her name.
Alongside helping to build the school, I also worked at a tech firm where I led marketing and HR. I managed to deep-dive into technical projects including autonomous robotics and laser scanning, so it’s been a mix of education, communications, tech, and a lot of learning on autopilot.
Tell us more about your current role as Head of Marketing and Development at SKIS.
The job is strategic and very practical at the same time. I create and oversee our communications across channels, manage our social media, and produce the core materials families see first, from videos and photography to brochures, and campaign content. I also contribute to admissions communication as well as work on development through partnerships and initiatives that support growth.
At the same time, I spend a lot of time with students supervising homework and evening routines, and also teach a class called Theory of Knowledge.That daily contact is what keeps everything honest.
Do you find yourself applying what you learned at JCU in your day-to-day life or career?
My academic background connects directly to my career. I teach Theory of Knowledge, and my graduate studies focused on governance, diplomacy, and the ethics of power. In my class, we talk about how people form beliefs, how evidence can be manipulated, and how institutions shape behavior. When I am asked about JCU faculty who made an impact on me, I always name Professors Michael Driessen and Pamala Harris. Professor Harris, in particular, has remained a guiding light for me and my career.
Are there any upcoming projects or plans you’re excited about and would like to share with us?
I want to expand the school’s goals through more serious public writing and research. I’m considering pursuing a PhD so I can study these questions formally at the intersection of education, technology, and society, and contribute to the conversation with evidence rather than slogans. At the same time, I’m continuing the projects that matter to me at SKIS, including scholarship development and the scholarship in my mother’s name, as part of keeping her mission alive.
What advice would you give to students who are pursuing the International Affairs and Communications path?
Do not assume you already know what you will do in the future. Many people do not land exactly where they planned, and that is perfectly fine. International Affairs and Communications are two of the most versatile degrees you can choose. Studying these subjects makes you adaptable. You learn to process information quickly, think critically, and write clearly. Writing and editing are both very important in this field. Those hard skills are useful in policy, media, business, education, and tech.
And finally, appreciate your family. Family matters more than you think while you are busy building your life. If you still can, call your mom.
