Degrees: B.S. in Foreign Area Studies (Africa) and Humanities; Minor in French
How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
The Stamps Scholarship was truly life-changing in that it enabled me to pursue my wide array of academic passions including Francophone and African Studies, post-colonialism, and migration policy. As a Stamps Scholar, I have had the opportunity to intern with Washington DC organizations, volunteer and study in France and Senegal, and present research in Wisconsin. Perhaps most important has been the inspiration that the Stamps Scholarship has provided me as I interact with and learn about more and more fellow scholars dedicated to enacting change for good.
Tell us a piece of wisdom you’ve learned over the past four years.
Be a genuine person. If you know yourself and your passions, success and happiness will follow.
Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
My Academy Scholars Program Director and professor, Dr. Derek Varble, has had a formative impact on me during my tenure at the Academy. Ever since freshman year, Dr. Varble has served as an invaluable mentor and truly ignited the desire in me to become a life-long learner and to dedicate my life to academia and service. I could not imagine my Academy experience without him.
What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
I will always remember the ?©cole maternelle (elementary school) where I volunteered in Saint Louis, Senegal. The intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm of the young students touched me. In a very small part, I contributed to the education of Africa’s future generations by teaching them about French and American culture. In each one of their beaming faces, I saw a ray of hope for Senegal and the continent writ large.
What comes next?
After graduation, I will travel to East Asia (Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam) and then return to the United States to serve as the best man in my best friend’s wedding. After the wedding, I will travel to France and Spain as a conclusion to my summer travels. I will then pursue a Master of Philosophy in Modern Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on North Africa at the University of Oxford in the fall.
Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished” – Nelson Mandela