Why did you ultimately choose URI for your undergraduate career?
I knew I wanted to study Japanese for undergrad. Learning the language had always been a dream of mine, and as a lifelong Rhode Islander, it seemed like the perfect match when URI offered such a wonderful Japanese program!
When did you declare your majors? What was your journey to get there?
I’ve always been lucky in the sense that I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was twelve years old. In 7th grade, I was one of ten students selected by my geography teacher to attend a seminar in New York City between atomic bomb survivor, Masahiro Sasaki, and President Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel. Together, they talked about the importance of peace, mutual compassion, and understanding across cultures. As part of the event, we folded paper cranes. Sasaki and Truman stood by my side, guiding me through the process. It was a transformative experience that, over a decade later, led me to declare a double major in Political Science and Japanese.
How did you find political science and Japanese intersected in your work?
As someone who is mainly focused on Indo-Pacific security and nuclear policy, I find a lot of cross-over in Political Science and Japanese in the realm of extended deterrence. Extended deterrence is a commitment by the United States to use its military power, including nuclear weapons, to deter attacks not just on itself, but also on its allies. As one of the United States core allies in the region, Japan’s position under the U.S. nuclear umbrella makes its location a strategic case for examining regional security dynamics.
As a junior, you started a partnership with Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown in which URI Japanese students share their enthusiasm for the language with seventh graders. What inspired this idea and how did you execute it with Japanese faculty?
When I was in middle school, my 7th grade geography teacher, Mrs. Sandra Makielski, absolutely changed my life. Not only is she amazing at what she does, but Mrs. Makielski offers an outstanding learning experience in her classroom by incorporating real activities and guests from the country/region that her students are learning about. For instance, I remember making slippers to wear in the classroom and having a test on how to use chopsticks when learning about Japan. I also remember a guest who showed us dances from her culture. It’s very rare to see this level of cross-cultural engagement in a K-12 school, and I’m certain she changed so many students’ lives and outlooks on learning. My friends and I still talk about how awesome her class was years later! Paired with the meaningful experiences I’ve had through the URI Japanese Department, I saw an opportunity to give back by recreating that same sense of excitement and cultural immersion for the next generation of students.
Any stand-out moments from that experience?
After my first visit to Davisville Middle School to teach Japanese, I remember quite a few interested students who approached me after the lesson, asking about recommendations for textbooks and resources to use, since they were interested in learning Japanese further! It’s in those moments where I feel a deep sense of fulfillment.
Congratulations on your recent graduation! What have you been up to?
Thank you very much! Since graduation, I’ve been working on my graduate school applications. I’m applying to six schools, and I’ll hear back from most of them in late March. I’ve also been working as a Research Intern at the Pacific Forum, a non-profit foreign policy research institute that seeks to stimulate cooperative policies in the Indo-Pacific region. I’m working on a research project that examines extended deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region during the Biden Administration and the first Trump Administration.
Human rights and nuclear weapons have been an interest of yours dating back to middle school. How did you weave this into your studies?
I mostly pursued internships that allowed me to work on those passions. For example, at the U.S. Naval War College, I spent a semester conducting research on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) risk in the Indo-Pacific region. In the end, I co-authored Edge of Conflict, a publication in Sentry, a professional military magazine published by the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), for national security personnel. I also interned at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies for over a year where I monitored global refugee and WMD events. I’ve also worked on CIRIGHTS, the world’s largest quantitative human rights database. For me, it’s all about seizing opportunities, making the most of them, and applying what I’ve learned in internships to my studies.
What led to your recent publication in the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center?
I first connected with the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center in 2023, when I participated in the John Lewis Young Leaders Program. This program allows fellows to work on a capstone project to address social issues and human rights and receive training in grassroots organizing. For my project, I pioneered a data-driven capstone project that established a quantifiable metric for analyzing prisoners’ rights, media rights, and children’s rights (child labor) in the United States at a national and subnational level across 22 years. That project was actually inspired by the CIRIGHTS dataset, which is worked on at URI. During that time, I published my first piece with the Center, talking about my project. After the fellowship, I thought it would be helpful to bridge my interests in human rights and national security for graduate school applications, so I reached out to ask if I could write a piece for their newsletter. I immediately knew that I wanted to write about hibakusha, the radioactive violence subjected on Indigenous communities, and the Marshallese people, as these communities’ human rights have been deeply and directly affected by the existence of nuclear weapons.
What are your goals for graduate school and beyond?
In graduate school, I hope to conduct research on weapons of mass destruction and Indo-Pacific security. Networking and taking advantage of policy opportunities are at the forefront of my mind. Long-term, my ultimate goal is to work for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) or the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), where I aim to contribute to nuclear policy and national security initiatives.
Why should a prospective student choose URI?
A prospective student should choose URI because of the unparalleled access to unique opportunities that will greatly aid their future. Through fellowships, internships, and strong institutional connections, URI empowers its students for their desired career. Additionally, it’s very evident that the staff at URI really wants their students to succeed. In my experience, the support, networking, and mentorship I’ve received from my professors have been invaluable on my journey. I truly couldn’t have come as far as I have without help from the URI Political Science, Japanese, and National Fellowships department. Beyond academics, attending URI means becoming part of a community that sticks together. No matter which major you choose or path you take, you’ll find people who support, challenge, and grow with you.