Majors: French, Political Science, and Writing & Rhetoric
Hometown: North Haven, CT
What accomplishments and activities are you most proud of while at URI?
I am proud to have been part of the founding of URI’s first club dedicated to human rights: URI Amnesty International. Upon learning that there wasn’t a human rights group on campus, an adviser recommended I do some research on Amnesty. Two years later, I’m serving as the president of a rapidly growing, dynamic group, dedicated to promoting an understanding of human rights here in Kingston.
What research projects, internships, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI? How did they enhance your education?
URI has opened doors to a wealth of exciting learning opportunities, both at home and abroad. I spent two semesters interning at the U.S. Naval War College here in Newport, where I had the chance to study the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, as well as human rights. Later, I worked with Kathleen Maher of the Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities, and was awarded a David L. Boren scholarship in 2018. This award funded six months of intensive French and Wolof study at the University of Florida, and then abroad in Dakar, Senegal. This past summer, I received funding from the Harrington School to complete a five week internship at a law firm in Accra, Ghana, made possible by Professor Lou Fosu. As a student interested in international affairs and an international career, these were incredibly valuable experiences in that they allowed me a pair of unique cross cultural experiences, and opened doors to unprecedented networking opportunities.
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
Even now in 2020, I still hear criticisms of a liberal arts education. In my various pursuits, I have only ever benefitted from my liberal arts education. Critical thinking in the world today requires the ability to draw from a variety of disciplines; my liberal arts studies at URI have allowed me to do just that, wherever I go.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently exploring different advanced degree options in international affairs, and would like to complete such a degree before beginning my year of federal service I owe as a Boren scholarship recipient. In accepting my scholarship to Senegal, I agreed to work in the U.S. national security sector for at least a year, and hope to do so in a position related to human rights or international development. I’m open minded, and very excited to see what the future holds!
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
As someone who came into university dazed, confused, and unsure of what the future held, URI has absolutely helped me clear the fog. The support I’ve had from faculty, especially those of the Honors Program, have made all the difference, and I’m not sure where I’d be without their guidance and support.