Author: Soo Jin Kim
The Diplomacy and World Affairs (DWA) department of Occidental College has accepted proposals from students hoping to gain access to the recent John Parke Young Fund. A gift given by John Parke Young, this fund is exclusively available to DWA majors. Young was an Occidental alum and the former chief of the State Department’s division of international finance, and assisted in the foundation of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The fund allows students to receive up to $3500 individually.
The fund has been very well received in the DWA department. “It’s exciting,” Assistant Professor and coordinator/chair of the Fund Laura Hebert said. “I think it creates lots of opportunities for students. Students seem excited about it, [and the] faculty seems happy to support students.”This fund allows students to gain funding for their own independent research and projects relating to global politics and international economics. These usually take the form of written projects based upon international field research. For international field research, students are able to visit foreign countries and conduct interviews. These interviews are often used by students as a basis for their senior comps.
Even though the focus is on international research, it is still possible for students to conduct research domestically as long as it has an international focus. Students are also able to participate in internships, either domestically or internationally, providing it relates to an international theme.
“Before, there wasn’t a fund that was specifically [tailored] for international studies,” Dwight Hobbs (sophomore) said. “You had to find funding through other means, so I think it’s awesome.”
Conor Sanchez (senior) applied for the grant this semester, and is hoping to receive funding to help supplement his income during the summer when he participates in an internship. He hopes that it will help him decide whether or not he wants to go to law school.
“I’m really excited – it’s a great addition to the department because DWA students haven’t had a fund of their own, and as a senior, I haven’t been supported as [the DWA department] hasn’t had funds available to help fund research or internships,” Sanchez said.
Though Hebert hasn’t been able to go through all the applications at the time of the interview, she did say that although the application was open to any current student, there seemed to be more sophomores and juniors applying.
“DWA students are very motivated students; [they] like to be involved in lots of activities and the fund provides them with a great opportunity to help them prepare for life after Oxy by gaining experience,” Hebert said.
Though the deadline for this cycle’s application ended on April 1, the deadline for the next cycle of application is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2009. There are three cycles per year, and the deadlines for proposal submissions are on April 1 for the summer break, Aug. 1 for the fall semester and Nov. 1 for the winter break and spring semester.
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