The College | Arts & Sciences

2009-2010 Fellows

Seniors

Selam Kidane

African and African American Studies

Throughout my research, I explore the social effects of the Italian colonial period in Eritrea (1890-1941). I am interested in understanding how the colonial period impacted Eritrean society and laid the foundations for future nationalist movements. Specifically, I am examining Eritrean soldiers in the Italian colonial army (ascaris) and the social implications of their military service. Through archival research and interviews, I hope to better understand what effect the Eritrean ascari and the their service in the Italian colonial army had on Eritrean society.

LaTasha Kinnard

Psychology; Education

How does assimilating to mainstream ideals of success effect African American college students

My project looks at how language issued to create structural control and individual agency by using discourse analysis as the method of choice. Examining discourse entails observing language in action, as well as observing non-language characteristics that allow one to be a recognized member of a certain group. Hopefully, this will allow me to determine how situated identities and language socialization impact the lives and values of college students.

Tiffany Johnson

African and African American studies; Anthropology

Black Boys and the Face of Urban Education

For my research project, I plan toexplore the relationships between race, power and education as a mean of better understanding why achievement rates are so low for Black male youth. From there, I will offer pragmatic solutions for addressing the low achievement rates as demonstrated by already successful education programs. I will draw from policy, scholarship and popular culture to gain a better understanding of how Black boys relate to urban education. The main sources that inform my research are Pedro Nougera’s The Trouble with Black Boys and The HBO television series The Wire, which is used heavily in academic circles as a cultural product that provides insight into urban life. I will also draw heavily from statistical data that show the relationship between educational attainment and economic success.

Tim Shaw

Political Science; Spanish

Social Capital in Practice: A Case Study in Appalachia

In my Mellon project I use a non-profit in Appalachia as a case study to demonstrate the practical use of the recently popularized social capital theory. I analyze secondary sources on social capital and Appalachia with primary sources from field work I have done with the organization in order to demonstrate how social capital works in practice and how that should affect the working scholarly definition of social capital. The information is obtained mainly through interviews with clients, staff, and volunteers of the organization. In this analysis, I attempt to discover how social capital theory can be useful for practitioners in the non-profit arena based on the work of this organization, and what specific methods, such as community outreach strategies, programming, and public relations strategies seem to build useful social capital.

Marley Williams
Latin American Studies; Spanish
International Law and Indigenous Social Movements: A Case Study for the Amazon

My Mellon project attempts to explain how international human rights law is changing the rhetoric and influence of indigenous social organizations and how these organizations are using international law to mobilize within their States and help indigenous peoples to demand the recognition of their rights. Indigenous peoples are among the most marginalized and discriminated against minority groups in the world. Governments are constantly violating indigenous rights with impunity, and until recently, indigenous peoples have had very few options for denouncing State actions. With the recent ratification of important international human rights documents, specifically the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous rights are finally being recognized. This project attempts to show the impact of the Declaration through multiple lenses and interpretations in order to fully understand its influence within indigenous communities residing in Latin America.

 
Juniors

Kim Daily
Political Science; African and African American Studies
The Whitest Black Kid You Know: Rethinking Notions of Racial and Educational Authenticity

My project explores the interplay between race and the political structure of American school systems. Through my research, I aim to demonstrate howeducation’s popularity as a system in which success is measured solely byeffort further reproduces what are, essentially, race-based educational stratifications. With this focus, my study also explores the impact that the increased racial diversity on college campuses has on affirmative action policies,with regard to the notion of the United States as a race-blind, progressive nation. My research primarily consists of the rigorous study of secondary sources along with the detailed interviews I will conduct with both high school students and administration.

Naia H. Ferguson
Psychology; African & African American Studies
Black, White, and Nigga

My research as it stands consists of a close reading of Aaron McGruder's animated series, "The Boondocks" and extracting the definitions of what it means to be Black, what it means to be White, and what it means to be a nigga as defined by the show. From the pilot episode, the show begins to delineate what these three definitions are, specifically with considerations of "do's and don'ts", much less than the physical characteristics that are seen to primarily define these three, especially Black and White. I will attempt to try to see Black, White, and nigga from the psychological perspective and parallel (or contrast, based on my findings) these with the portrayals in the show. The animated series will be the one of the main texts,supported with literature on animation, Black psychology, and hopefully an extensive interview with the show’s creator.

Thomas Hernandez

International Studies; PNP

Evaluating Macro-Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of BP in Azerbaijan

My project looks at the growing corporate trend of macro-corporate social responsibility initiatives, using British Petroleum’s influence in Azerbaijan to decrease corruption, mitigate human rights violations, and increase transparency at thenational level as a case study. I wish to evaluate specific regional political involvement BP has initiated, by using primary source evaluations from government, corporate, and non-governmental organizations to asses the effectiveness of their efforts. By assessing a series of indicators, I hope to address the following questions: 1.What are the successes and limits of macro CSR agenda as demonstrated by BP in Azerbaijan? 2. In what ways can multinational corporations be conduits for macro-level change of “bad governance” in developing nations in which they operate, if any at all? 3. Is a long-term governing and social infrastructure being set up which would ensure greater stability and prosperity after BPs influence is gone?

Maria Santos

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Senderistas: A feminist analysis on Peruvian women in the Shining Path and how gender affected their motivations, actions and legacy.

My research will focus on Peruvian women in the Shining Path, a communist guerrilla group in Peru. These women were fierce and brutal combatants as wellas respected leaders whose job was to orchestrate planned attacks. They wereeducated women that defied the assumptions that they would be nurturing and maternal by committing atrocious acts of violence. I want to do a feminist analysis on the women’s motivations for joining the movement, the effect of gender on their acts of violence and subversion and how the Peruvian community reacted tothem. Through archival research and interviews, I hope to dissect their intentions, perceived affects on Peruvian society and violence by women.

Monica Smith

Political Science
Jim Crow's Middle Class: The Origins and Economic Effects of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944

This project seeks to examine the ways the GI Bill of 1944 facilitated the development of a predominantly white middle class, specifically through differences in regional implementation of the bill. The economic disparities created through this inconsistent implementation will then be traced over time and compared to other changes within the bill. Finally, the present-day GI Bill will be examined in light of the trends established regarding the original bill. This evaluation will determine whether the provisions of the 1944 act that encouraged the creation of a predominantly white middle class are still present within the bill, as well as the changing nature of the relationship between race, the legislature, and the economy.