Student Testimonials 2011-12

A Letter from the Director

This grant testimonial book demonstrates the range of the research, internship,service, and language training initiatives undertaken by Notre Dame under-graduate and graduate students during the past academic year. This volumeincludes testimonials from the recipients of the R. Stephen and Ruth Barrett Grantfor Best Proposal, The Katie Murphy McMahon Grant for Russian and East-CentralEuropean Studies, The Snider Family Endowment for Excellence in European Studies,and the Charles C. Price Memorial Grant for East-Central European Studies.

As Interim Director of the Nanovic Institute, I have been impressed to wit-ness the extent and value of the Institute’s student grant programs. Even theprocess itself has pedagogical value: before receiving an award, each studentparticipates in the increasingly competitive application process, which requiresthe students to draft a detailed proposal with a budget to articulate a need, aswell as the necessary preparation, to undertake research or an internship. Theseopportunities elevate the students’ academic work and connect them with thehistory and culture of Europe in an intense, productive, and transformativeway. Their educational experience becomes much more sophisticated as theylearn how to conduct original research or serve others in different cultures. Af-terwards, they return to campus to work one-on-one with faculty members onterm papers, senior theses, and articles for publication.

After they think through intellectual issues and complete their independentprojects, the students are able to share their experiences with classmates, en-rich the campus culture, and enter their careers and further scholarship withgreater maturity and perspective. Given their sincere quest to engage in travel,research, and service, and their desire to enrich their educational experienceat Notre Dame, we are pleased to send these students forth as ambassadors ofNotre Dame and the Nanovic Institute.

Donald CraftonInterim Director and the Joseph and Elizabeth Robbie Professor of Film, Television, andTheatre

If you would like to learn more about our programs, please visit our websiteat nanovic.nd.edu or contact us at nanovic@nd.edu or 574-631-5253.

1

Student Testimonials, 2011/12

“I studied England’s early role in nation-statebuilding in my Political Science classes andlearned about sports television at Notre Dame,but I never expected to experience both cometogether in London at the Olympics. I gainedprofessional experience through access to inter-national press conferences and sporting events,interviews in the Olympic Village and Wemb-ley Stadium, and daily interactions with pro-ducers, reporters, and photographers from dif-ferent countries. My London Olympic experi-ence gave me a first-hand understanding of thepolitics involved in international sports.”

Christian S. AguileraClass of ’13, Majors in Political Science and Film,Television & Theatre

“The trip to Paris was truly unlike any otherexperience. I learned a lot about myself andmy fluency in the French language certainly im-proved over the course of the week. My visitsto the Historical Library were essential to myresearch and the tour of Musee Cluny offeredme many insights into my own work and gaveme artistic sources to cite in my paper.”

Elizabeth ArgueClass of ’14, Majors in Political Science and French

2

“From September 15 to October 6, I traveledto England, to complete archival research onmy dissertation, “Vernacular Reading, Conti-nental Models, and the Composition of Chauce-rian Marginalia” in the collections of Oxfordand Cambridge Universities, and of the BritishLibrary in London. My focus was two-fold:first to study certain earlier manuscripts ofWilliam Langland’s Piers Plowman and JohnGower’s Confessio Amantis, and second, to lookfor uncatalogued and unedited marginalia inthe manuscripts of the French poetry from theMiddle Ages, which remain in England.”

Sarah BaechleDoctoral candidate, English

“I could not have anticipated a better and moreproductive outcome from my research this pastterm, and I can sincerely say that much of itwould not have been possible without the gen-erous support of the Institute. It has allowedme to pursue my research, which, as noted, hasproven to be quite fertile, but, perhaps evenmore importantly, it has allowed me to culti-vate a close and fruitful relationship with one ofthe foremost philosophers and scholars work-ing in my area of specialization. I now knowthat this professor and I are able to work pro-ductively together, and that there is no conceiv-able barrier to his future involvement in my dis-sertation research and writing.”

Babak BakhtiaryniaDoctoral candidate, Philosophy

3

“The Institute gave me the opportunity to travelto the Northeastern Political Science Associ-ation meeting in Philadelphia to present mypaper titled ‘Arendt’s Machiavellian Moment.’This was my first conference presentation on apanel, and I found the experience enriching. Ireceived valuable feedback on my paper dur-ing both the question and answer session andin meeting with members of the audience afterthe panel. Traveling to the conference also gaveme the opportunity to meet other graduate stu-dents and faculty engaged in research similar tomine. During these discussions I made a num-ber of contacts that will help me as I enter thefield. The paper is currently under review atthe Journal of Politics.”

Faisal BaluchDoctoral candidate, Political Science

“Over fall break, I traveled to Paris, France,to do research with respect to Pierre de Ron-sard and his use of spatial and architecturalmetaphors and symbols. It required me to getused to using French on a regular basis as wellas getting accustomed to living according todifferent customs. For me, it wasn’t too diffi-cult to interact with vendors, but it was morechallenging to talk to other Parisians, especiallyother Parisian youth. This trip was both bene-ficial and enjoyable. I was able to conduct re-search while fully immersing myself in a for-eign culture to improve my use of French.”

Brett BeattieClass of ’14, Major in Mechanical Engineering

4

“I had the opportunity to travel to Turkey tostudy the hamam of Istanbul first-hand. I lookedupon my studies in Turkey as those of a transla-tor, for the incorporation of architectural formsfrom a different culture is not likely to be suc-cessful when directly transplanted. Not onlywill I use the technical details and physicalforms of the buildings that I studied, but I willalso pull from the less scientific aspects of thearchitecture which inspire and produce wonderso that this new piece of architecture will en-hance the city of Charleston and instill a similarsense of awe in those who visit.”

Jenniver BevanMaster’s candidate, Architecture

“For a week in October 2011, I traveled with fiveother fellow students to conduct research andfilm a documentary in Geneva, Switzerland.Our project focused on the continuing legaciesof Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein and its rel-evance in today’s world. Traveling to Europeand conducting our research there truly gave usan opportunity to see our work in a whole newlight.”

Courtney BiscanClass of ’14, Majors in Political Science and PeaceStudies

5

“Because I was able to complete my sevenweeks under budget in Spain, I used the re-mainder of my funds to take a short trip to theRoyal Library of the Netherlands and the Uni-versity of Leiden, where I found eighty pam-phlets in Latin and Dutch printed in the LowCountries that are related to my research. On-line repositories such as Early English Books On-line revealed some 120 comet tracts in English orprinted in England for the same period (1550-1750). Based on my discovery, I propose to un-dertake a comparative analysis of these tractsin Spain, the Netherlands, and England. Sucha trans-regional, multi-religious analysis willhelp to answer questions about the role of re-ligion in the scientific development of Europe.”

Laura BlandDoctoral candidate, History & Philosophy of Science

“The Graduate Initiative Grant provided by theNanovic Institute allowed me to travel to theUnited Kingdom over the 2011 Fall Break to ex-amine medieval manuscripts that contain thetexts of romances that I considered in my MAthesis. Receiving this grant allowed me theopportunity not only to take my research onwomen in romance a step further but also togain valuable archival research experience thatwill surely benefit me as I continue my aca-demic and professional development.”

Amanda BohneDoctoral candidate, English

6

“For four days in Ireland, I taught three stu-dents different aspects of photography, audiorecording, video recording, and creating graph-ics. We made short videos, documented theproject, and created a graphic text for the web-site using Photoshop. Prior to my arrival, thestudents had never been given the opportunityto engage in these creative activities. The pos-itive effects of the Digital Education Project allseem to circle back to giving people the oppor-tunity to learn. We gave them the opportu-nity for starting a dialogue, learning about dig-ital tools, mixing with kids from other schoolsand backgrounds, and collaborating amongstthe division.”

Kathleen BrackeClass of ’13, Major in Film, Television, & Theater

“Spiritually, one of the main things I took awayfrom my time in Rome was a greater sense ofthe practical nature of our call to holiness. Bythat I mean that the call to follow Christ comesto us in the midst of our everyday tasks. Bywalking in the footsteps and praying before theremains of Church heroes like Peter and Paul, Iwas reminded that the saints were real men andwomen who attained sanctity by serving Godand neighbor in their everyday lives. Thus,traveling thousands of miles to sacred sites inItaly helped me to grow in appreciation for my“regular” life back home, challenging me toview my normal duties as a series of opportuni-ties to grow in holiness by serving God in smallways.”

Peter BrattonClass of ’13, Major in Philosophy

7

“While volunteering in Romania I had the op-portunity to see firsthand the effects of becom-ing an orphan or losing a parent on the psycho-logical development of children and adults. Asa Psychology major, I am extremely interestedin how important these formative years are inan individual’s lifelong psychosocial skills. Thedifficult emotional experience many of thesechildren have gone through plays a major rolein their later development. Additionally, be-cause the Orthodox Church plays such a mas-sive role in the community and in Romanianculture, this experience was relevant to my The-ology studies. As a result of the four weeksI spent in Valea Screzii, I have a new interestin how religion can serve as a coping mecha-nism for those who experience great loss earlyin life.”

Catherine BraunlichClass of ’14, Majors in Psychology and Theology

“I was able to spend two-and-a-half monthsin England this summer conducting primarymanuscript research for my dissertation. Myproject seeks to re-narrate the dominant histori-ography of the liturgical roles and pastoral min-istries of medieval women religious in Englandby demonstrating that they could and did ex-ercise authority, agency, and creativity in theseactivities quite independently of male clericalcontrol. The research that I was able to conductin England this summer was vital to the successof my dissertation project. The discoveries thatI made will undoubtedly ensure that my projectmakes a real contribution to the study of me-dieval women religious.”

Katie Ann-Marie BugyisDoctoral candidate, Medieval Institute

8

“For my thesis project I chose to design a preser-vation school on an underutilized site situatedon the border of Nafplion, Greece. My projectwill seek to unify the old town. In order todo this, it was imperative to revisit the town.When you visit a place, certain things are for-ever grafted into your memories. During mytrip back to Nafplion, I took every advantageto document my site and the normative condi-tions of the town.”

Jack R. CallahanClass of ’12, Major in Architecture

“I traveled over spring break to Florence in or-der to complete my research and present mysenior thesis at New York University’s Italiancampus, Villa La Pietra. I am proud and happyto say that thanks to the Nanovic’s generos-ity I have been able to foster working schol-arly relationships with these great scholars andkey players in the preservation of Florence’s arthistorical heritage. I know I will utilize andcontinue to learn from these scholars for manyyears to come, as I continue my higher educa-tion.”

Felicia CaponigriClass of ’12, Major in Art History

9

“My winter research trip to Spain provided mewith the invaluable opportunity to analyze anddocument architecture typical to Andalucia, aregion in southern Spain. Thanks to the grant Ireceived from Nanovic, I was able to spend twoweeks in Spain, visiting several different citiessuch as Sevilla, Granada, and Cordova, all ofwhich contain rich cultural and historical back-grounds that produced a unique architecturaltradition. I was able to explore the many differ-ent types of buildings, as I attempted to compilea booklet of details, structures, and forms thatwill aid me as I work on a thesis proposal.”

Marcia CarrancoClass of ’12, Major in Architecture

“I spent six weeks of this summer taking Rus-sian Language classes at NovaMova in Kiev,Ukraine. The experiences I had in Kiev allowedme to return to South Bend with an even greaterpassion for Russian. I want to be able to holdmy own in conversation in Russian always. It isan incredible feeling when I am able to conveyexactly what I want to say with confidence andcorrectness in Russian. I have come a long waysince my first year as a freshman in beginningRussian and have a long way to go, but I willalways be able to look back on my summer inKiev as my first immersion experience and re-member that the Nanovic Institute enabled meto be there.”

Isabela CigarroaClass of ’14, Majors in Political Science and Russian

10

“Due to the generous donations of the NanovicInstitute I was able to travel to London, Eng-land where I researched the posters of the St.Joseph and St. Dominic’s Press that are heldin the Notre Dame Special Collections. Theseposters were made by the Guild of Ditchlingwhere they were meant to advertise differentfestivals and then torn down for new posters.The many expert scholars I was able to meetand the research I was able to perform hasprovided valuable information on a collectionof beautiful posters that have long been over-looked.”

Sara CloonClass of ’14, Majors in English and Studio Art

“The Nanovic Grant I received allowed me totravel to Krakow over Christmas break to expe-rience Polish culture firsthand. I focused specif-ically on studying architecture related to the lifeof Pope John Paul II. I will use my observationsto inform the design of my senior architecturethesis project, a Blessed John Paul II Shrine andCultural Center in Washington, D.C. I will beable to emphasize the importance of John Paul’sPolish identity through visual expression in thecharacter of the buildings I design.”

Caroline ColeClass of ’12, Major in Architecture

11

“With the aid of my Senior Travel and ResearchGrant, I was able to spend a week in Spain overspring break to conduct my own original re-search to gather the data that I had been un-able to find. I spent half the week in Barcelonaand the remainder in Valencia. In each city, Iwas able to engage local youth in their own en-vironments, discussing the role that languageplays in their daily lives and speaking exclu-sively in Spanish. In one thrilling week, my re-search came alive: data from a dissertation be-came the faces of my respondents, and their so-cial environment became my own.”

Kyle CollinsClass of ’12, Major in Mechanical Engineering

“This grant proved invaluable for my researchon the reception and influence of antique sculp-ture in the Middle Ages from Sicily. This is thefoundation of my projected-dissertation thatwill explore a long-standing issue in scholar-ship on medieval architectural sculpture: thecause of the sudden shift toward naturalism inthe sculptural programs of the major cathedralsin northern France and Germany after the year1200. I have not only been able to take the ini-tial steps towards an under-researched topic inthe field of medieval art but was also able to se-cure valuable professional relationships for fu-ture doctoral research and employment oppor-tunities after graduation.”

Brandon CookDoctoral candidate, English

12

“The CUNY Latin/Greek Institute is a summer-long program of intensive instruction in Latinand Greek, in its fortieth year this summer. It isa grueling ten-week course, six weeks of whichare spent covering the entire grammar and asubstantial vocabulary of the student’s chosenlanguage, and the remaining four of whichare spent studying various classical prose andverse texts. It was easily the most intensivetask of any kind, academic or otherwise, that Ihave ever undertaken. More extraordinary stillis the payoff. With no prior background, I cannow read confidently and competently (if moreslowly and deliberately than one with years ofexperience) any Attic Greek text.”

Jordan CorwinDoctoral candidate, Philosophy

“My research was vital for several reasons. Iwas able to perform preliminary historical re-search through reading French texts to lay thegroundwork for my studies. Also, I was ableto refine my topic of study, as I could discoverwhich part of an 18th century woman’s life in-terested me. Lastly, I was able to experienceboth artwork and furniture from the 18th cen-tury to which I would not have had access inthe United States.”

Annie CraggClass of ’13, Majors in English and French & Fran-cophone Cultures

13

“Interviewees gave us dozens of different in-terpretations of the Frankenstein story. Moreremarkably, we also heard common themesthroughout all of the testimonies. Artists andscientists, academics and students, all hadsomething to say. All recognized the impor-tance of both science and art in our concep-tion of what it means to be human. This mix-ture of diversity and similarity in perspectiveswidened my own worldview, making it globalin scope. It was not just enough to tell Ameri-can or Anglo- perspectives on Frankenstein. Wewanted to capture the universality of the story,how deeply it has become rooted in our collec-tive consciousness, and how its themes interactbetween various disciplines and fields.”

Patrick CruittClass of ’14, Major in Psychology

“I got the opportunity to live in Paris for 6weeks and study the French language. I en-rolled myself in L’Alliance Francaise and tookFrench classes every day of the week. MyFrench has been completely revolutionized andI am so proud that I was able to accomplish somuch. Since I study French literature, I knowthat this experience will take me to a new levelof comprehension that will be essential in myfuture courses at Notre Dame. Understandingthe language will no longer be an issue; on theother hand, I will have more time to enjoy thebeauty of French literature and its context.”

Luisa De Los SantosClass of ’14, Major in Romance Languages and Lit-erature

14

“While in Barcelona, I gathered researchthrough interviews, daily conversations, andpersonal experiences of the culture. I woulddefinitely recommend conducting researchabroad. Fieldwork and firsthand observationsare remarkably unique compared to researchperformed in a classroom. Not only doesresearch abroad allow for a deep understand-ing of the topic, but it also promotes culturalawareness and personal growth.”

Anna del CastilloClass of ’12, Majors in Accounting and Spanish(Supplementary)

“As a Political Science major with a minor inPhilosophy, Politcs, and Economics, I was in-terested in the implications of art and scienceon humanity, and the responsibility of artistsand scientists who push the boundaries of theirwork. Their answers to my questions led me toponder who must ultimately be held responsi-ble for shaping and presenting such discoveriesin society in a responsible manner. Further, Iwas delighted to be able to explore human na-ture in such depth with people from a varietyof disciplines and locations. These discussionsand hands-on explorations will greatly help meas I pursue a concentration in Political Theory.”

Ciara DineenClass of ’14, Major in Political Science

15

“I attended the MSA 13 conference put forthby the Modernist Studies Association. I partic-ipated in a seminar entitled “Broadcast Traces,Tracing Broadcasting.” This seminar had nineparticipants and was led by two of the fore-most radio scholars in the discipline today: De-bra Rae Cohen and Michael Coyle. Each of theparticipants wrote a position paper, which weredistributed and read before our seminar meet-ing. This was the most productive experience Ihave had at a conference yet.”

Melissa DinsmanDoctoral candidate, Ph.D. in Literature

“I accomplished a lot on this trip, profession-ally, academically and personally. Never be-fore have I authored a paper that involved somuch in-depth and high-level physics. Further-more, the Institute for Cancer Research in Lon-don is a well-respected scientific facility, and Iwill benefit greatly from my interactions withmy co-workers there. I now feel that I havea firm grasp of the hard science that goes intomedical imaging. Finally, I have grown into amature traveler, ready for longer and more im-portant trips to conferences and other collabo-rations.”

Evan DoneyClass of ’15, Major in Chemical & Biomolecular En-gineering

16

“My time in Russia was nothing short of life-changing. I entered Notre Dame with no in-tention of studying Russian language. Due toAP credit however, I found my schedule openand decided to pursue a topic most of my peerswould never get the chance to study. Though Igrew to love the language, I still was committedto double majoring in Finance and Economics,so my schedule in the future could not supportRussian without summer study. Thanks to theNanovic, that was possible.”

Vincent DourClass of ’15, Majors in Finance and Economics

“The Leuven Explorations in Systematic Theol-ogy (LEST) is an ongoing series of biennial con-ferences hosted by the Faculty of Theology andReligious Studies of the Catholic University ofLeuven in Belgium. Besides the experience ofpresenting a paper at an academic conference,perhaps the most valuable outcome of my at-tending the LEST conference was meeting an-other doctoral student researching nineteenthcentury Catholic theology—a period that tendsto be ignored by scholarship and so is some-thing of a lonely field of study. It is quite possi-ble that we are the only two graduate studentsin the world writing on one particular figure, soit goes without saying that this meeting was aboon for both of us.”

Andrew Downing, S.J.Doctoral candidate, Theology

17

“I am an Italian native speaker and a first yeardoctoral student in the PhD in Literature at theUniversity of Notre Dame. Thanks to the fund-ing I received, I was able to attend languageclasses at the Alliance Francaise in Paris and toenroll in an intensive course, which allowed meto improve my reading listening and speakingskills substantially. As a result, I am now able toread secondary literature in French with greatconfidence and to approach French literary pro-duction with a satisfactory degree of cognition.I want to start working on French literature andon its interaction with Latin/Greek classical tra-dition, so this experience marked an importantstep in my academic development, and has setgood premises for the advancement of my ca-reer.”

Elisabetta DrudiDoctoral candidate, Ph.D. in Literature

“I was able to travel to Fort Worth to receive theCarl S. Meyer Prize at the annual meeting of theSixteenth Century Studies Conference (SCSC).The Meyer Prize is awarded, and not necessar-ily every year, for the best research paper bya graduate student or assistant professor fromany discipline that works on the early modernperiod (ca. 1450-1660). I had presented my pa-per, entitled ‘The Hermeneutics of EmotionalRestraint: Calvin’s Pastoral Theology of Impre-cation in Comparative Context’ at the previousmeeting of the SCSC in Montreal, Quebec. TheInstitute was also instrumental in helping me totravel to Montreal to deliver that paper. Thus,because of the Nanovic Institute’s assistance, Iwas able to deliver an award-winning paper inCanada and receive the award for that paper inTexas.”

Adam Asher DukerDoctoral candidate, History

18

“My thesis work is forever changed by my ex-perience in Italy, and I am thoroughly gratefulfor the chance to experience a world that I pre-viously had not known existed. Not only wasmy worldview expanded, my way of think-ing about the world and communicating withothers is fundamentally changed. In my finalthesis project, I plan to share the stories thatmany different women told me, and advancetheir goal of understanding what it means tobe a woman. By reclaiming an identity that wemake ourselves, instead of accepting the iden-tity that is projected on to us, women can trulybecome equal members of a diverse global so-ciety.”

Lindsay DunClass of ’14, Majors in Political Science and GenderStudies (Supplemental)

“ I spent the month of June in the city archive inAugsburg, Germany. Although German beg-ging is most often studied during the Reforma-tion era, Germany was one of the first WesternEuropean countries to pass laws against beg-gars and to classify them in city records. Augs-burg, the site of the oldest social settlement inexistence, was also the first city in Germanyknown to have recorded cant terms describingcategories of beggars. As I plan to write mydissertation on the practice and perception ofbegging in late medieval Germany, these fourweeks allowed me to conduct important ex-ploratory research for my dissertation.”

Allison EdgrenDoctoral candidate, History

19

“My goal is to gain a better understanding ofthe nature of policing in Northern Ireland in theearly period of the conflict. To accomplish this,I needed to collect police reports documentingthe actions of units in certain areas of Belfastduring 1968-1971. Gathering this data will al-low me to map police actions over a certain pe-riod across time and space. I sought the policerecords in the Public Record Office of NorthernIreland (PRONI). Overall, I was able to gathernecessary documents for my research, and Ilook forward to distilling the information foruse within my senior thesis.”

Peter ElliottClass of ’12, Majors in Political Science and Eco-nomics

“The reason I applied for the Nanovic SeniorTravel and Research Grant was to be able to per-sonally experience the aura of the stained glasswindows in the East End of the Abbey Churchof Saint Denis. The result of my trip, however,was much more than I could have imagined.Not only was I able to explore the iconogra-phy and design of the stained glass windows atSaint Denis, but I was also able to compare themto several other sets of contemporary stainedglass windows throughout Paris.”

Kelly FallonClass of ’12, Major in Art History

20

“While working in Belgium, I gained valu-able skills, such as the ability to use computerprograms common to biologists for analyzingDNA sequences and other data. In my projecton the microflora found in barley malt, I eval-uated genus-specific primers that enabled us todetermine the presence or absence of Streptococ-cus species in samples of barley from variouspoints in the malting process. In another projectI worked on, we used rep-PCR fingerprinting (amethod of distinguishing species using repeat-able DNA elements) to characterize the speciescommunities in barley malt. If everything goesaccording to plan, my data should be publishedin a paper authored by my mentor.”

Benjamin FosterClass of ’13, Major in Biological Sciences

“June of 2012 brought for me a rigorous andproductive three week research trip in England.Because I specialize in medieval manuscriptstudies, obtaining access to my primary sourcesrequires extensive travel, and this trip providedme an opportunity to perform archival researchfundamental to the early stages of my project.I spent two weeks working in the manuscriptreading rooms at the University of London’sSenate House Library and the British Library,and another week studying at the CambridgeUniversity Library. The work I completed therewill allow me to begin drafting three out of thefive chapters currently planned for my disser-tation.”

Karrie FullerDoctoral candidate, English

21

“This past summer, I lived and worked in Parisas an architecture intern. During the day, Iwent to work at a small, yet very busy, in-ternational architecture firm. Having workedwith Notre Dame students in the past, the of-fice knew of the kind of work ethic and qual-ity of work that Notre Dame interns are capableof; there was even a Notre Dame grad workingthere full-time! This respectable reputation al-lowed me to have the freedom to do more tasksthan the usual intern. Later in the evening, Icame home to a charming and very hospitableTunisian host family. Both my job experienceand my cultural experience in Paris combinedto form an unforgettable summer that has con-tributed to my growth professionally and per-sonally.”

Veronica GalvezClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

“I was able to travel to London for researchin the British Library archives, to Paris to ex-plore further the Bibliotheque Nationale, to SaintEtienne to attend a performance at an impor-tant theater and theater school, and to a smalltown in Belgium to study the educational phi-losophy, theater aesthetics and methodology ofa theater institute for children. It is hard toexpress all that these journeys to Europe havedone for me as a graduate student, a scholar,and a person. I have literally been able to bringdreams to life.”

Margaret GarveyDoctoral candidate, Ph.D. in Literature

22

“I was able to travel to Milan and Venice tostudy the relationship between social and po-litical life during the Renaissance. Without thisresearch trip, I could never have applied whatI learned at Notre Dame to real life and history.This undoubtedly will help me in my ItalianStudies major, providing a context to the Re-naissance and everything I have studied andwill study. I learned more about history andthe culture in one week in Italy than one couldever learn from a class or a textbook.”

Andrew GastelumClass of ’14, Major in Italian Studies

“I had the chance to experience the kindness,generosity, and faith of the Sisters of the St.Queen Hedwig and the other Poles with whominteracted in a way which will undoubtedly af-fect not only my research, but all of the futureexperiences I will have with Poland and its cul-ture. Through the generosity of the NanovicInstitute, I had the chance to build an interna-tional network of scholars who are experts inthe field in which I am doing research, all ofwhom I can now call on for further insight. Iam extremely grateful to Notre Dame and theNanovic Institute for giving me such a great op-portunity.”

Katarina GelkeClass of ’12, Major in Marketing

23

“Writing about the popular memory of GuyFawkes and Benedict Arnold as transatlanticcelebrities has required me to not only conductarchival research in England, but also to visitpublic markers that memorialize these figures.Through the generous support of the Institute,I was able to do both of these on a three weekresearch trip to London in September. In theevenings I attended several seminars and talksheld at the British Library, the British Museum,and various events hosted by the Institute forHistorical Research at the University of Lon-don, where I was able to make several profes-sional connections with faculty and other grad-uate students.”

Nichole GeorgeDoctoral candidate, History

“I was able to spend five weeks in Paris, France,to study language and to immerse myself in ev-eryday and traditional aspects of French cul-ture. Moreover, to increase my exposure to ev-eryday French, I also acted as a volunteer atITER, a Catholic cultural center based in theparish of Saint Germain-l’Auxerrois. Now Iam planning to attend graduate student levelclasses in French during my second year ofPh.D. studies. This grant made possible a cru-cial advancement in the formative pattern thatis preparing me for my final dissertation.”

Filippo GianferrariDoctoral candidate, Medieval Institute

24

“The trip to Geneva was incredible, more suc-cessful and educational that I could have hopedfor. I learned more about Frankenstein and itsimpact than I thought I would, giving me morerespect for the novel and for Mary Shelley. Igreatly appreciate the Nanovic Institute’s aidin our project, as I was able to build upon myown definitions of human nature from the ex-periences we had.”

John GibbonsClass of ’14, Major in Political Science

“The international aspect of the Border Cross-ing Seminar in Milan, Italy greatly benefited myacademic development here at the University ofNotre Dame. It allowed me for the first time todirectly connect two areas of my undergradu-ate studies: Italian and Political Science. Theresearch that I was able to conduct as a result ofthis seminar was also significant. I am currentlywriting my senior thesis on the intersection ofItalian political thought and opera. My researchfor the seminar allowed me to continue to ex-plore the traditions of Italian political thought,including its interaction with states outside ofItaly. This increased and focused research, andits resulting paper, would not have been viablewithout my participation at the Border Cross-ing Seminar.”

Caitlin GlimcoClass of ’13, Majors in Political Science and VocalPerformance

25

“Through the generous Nanovic Institude Se-nior Travel grant program, I had the amazingopportunity to go to Paris, France during myfall break to pursue a fascinating project. I wentto Paris to study at the unique Bibliotheque His-torique de la Ville de Paris, where I had access tocollections of 18th century French revolution-ary propaganda. This was truly an unforget-table and educational experience. I want to per-sonally extend my deepest gratitude to every-one at the Nanovic Institute for giving me thiswonderful opportunity. I am so grateful!”

Danny HarperClass of ’12, Majors in Psychology and RomanceLanguages & Literature

“My time at Pannonhalma was a valuable ex-perience of both Hungarian and monastic cul-ture. By living among the monks throughoutthe week, I was able to join with them in all theirhours of public prayer, dine with them in theirprivate refectory, and observe the balance be-tween the silence of the cloister and the busy-ness of the school. Furthermore, I witnessedboth the continuity and differences between lifein this modern European monastery and the lifedescribed in the rule given by St. Benedict tomonks in the sixth century.”

Braydn HarshaClass of ’12, Majors in Philosophy and MedievalStudies

26

“I had an amazing time in France this summerand I am so glad I had the opportunity to expe-rience the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. I learned alot about the industry, international travel, andmost importantly, myself. I dispelled manymyths about the industry that I previously heldand I have created a plan on how to continueto pursue my dreams. I would like to expressmy appreciation to Nanovic for funding my tripand providing the much-needed support that Ineeded.”

Joseph L. Haskins IIIClass of ’14, Majors in Information TechnologyManagement and Film, Television, & Theatre

“My dissertation asks; why are some militariesmore effective in combat than others? I neededto look at several types of materials: war di-aries describing specific units’ battle experi-ences, censorship reports based on censorshipof troop letters, regimental histories, and gov-ernment propaganda. My archival research tripto London was crucial. The material I acquiredprovides necessary details for measuring vari-ables of interest and allows me to put cases intotheir proper context. Funding from the Institutewas invaluable in this progress.”

Kirstin HaslerDoctoral candidate, Political Science

27

“I went to Salamanca, Spain, for four weeks thissummer. The purpose of the trip was to im-merse myself in the Spanish culture and attaina higher level of fluency in Spanish. I considermyself very fortunate to have the opportunityto hang out with Spanish people so often, asmost of the other foreigners here in Salamancaseem to spend most of their time with other for-eigners. It was a great experience. I gained anappreciation for different cultural values andgreatly improved my spoken Spanish.”

Stephen HawnClass of ’15, Major in Biochemistry

“I will forever be indebted to the Nanovic In-stitute for giving me the opportunity to ex-plore my philosophical inquiry through a Eu-ropean lens. What started as a seemingly di-rect research objective, led to an exploration ofthe philosophy of performance, transcendingmy own cultural constrictions and promptinga higher degree of intellectualism than I evercould have imagined.”

Audrey HayesClass of ’13, Majors in Philosophy and Music

28

“This grant allowed me to travel to Amster-dam for the Third Annual Dutch Conference onPractical Philosophy and stay for two nights.During my stay I had the opportunity to at-tend many talks, as well as present a paper onwhich I’ve been working for the last year. I wasable to hear talks by two of today’s most promi-nent philosophers, receive feedback on my ownwork by excellent scholars, and meet severalpeople who are at the same career stage as I am.This was a wonderful professional opportunity,and I’m very grateful to have been given it.”

Amelia HicksDoctoral candidate, Philosophy

“Geneva, though far away now, was every bitthe perfect amalgam of art and science that myfellow recipients and I expected it to be, in it-self one of the Frankensteins we traveled thereto document. It is in Geneva that one can seescience manifested in a 4.4 billon dollar parti-cle accelerator and aesthetic in the mist risingover the Villa Diodati, and where a student canattempt to piece together this human creation,whether in the chambers of the UN or overfondue on the pier, into the vibrant mesh thatthe city weaves. Through collaborative filmingand questioning of our straight-from-the-novelsettings, we found that Frankenstein’s monsterwas not the only confused creation of art andscience that has walked the Earth.”

David HoweClass of ’14, Major in Physics

29

“My experiences in Bulgaria over the past twoyears have strongly influenced my goals for thefuture. I am currently in the process of apply-ing for a yearlong research Fulbright to Bul-garia, as well as applying to several Anthropol-ogy Ph.D. programs in the Midwest. Throughmy three trips to Bulgaria, I have witnessedmy research question evolve from an interestin consumerism to a genuine concern about thenature in which ethnographic research is con-ducted.”

Morgan C. IddingsClass of ’13, Major in Anthropology

“Thanks to the funds I received from theNanovic Institute for European Studies, Iwas able to extend my study abroad experi-ence at the University of Oxford by workingwith world-renowned opera scholar ProfessorMichael Burden to begin research on my se-nior thesis. The month primarily allowed me toflesh out poor ideas and refine my topic; I nowfeel well-positioned to spend senior year work-ing on a focused question I developed duringmy summer in the UK.”

Edward JacobsonClass of ’13, Major in Music History

30

“As a History major beginning his third year ofundergraduate studies, the ability to utilize anexpansive pool of resources, including both pri-mary and secondary sources is becoming moreand more important. Given my focus on Eu-rope between the French Revolution and Ger-man unification, the German language is keyfor understanding many documents from Eu-rope during the time period that I’m studying.The grant that the Nanovic Institute funded al-lowed me to travel to Germany and propel myknowledge of the language forward.”

Matthew JewellClass of ’14, Major in History

“Stepping foot off the airplane in Novosibirsk,I knew that my summer would be one in a trulyforeign world. The driver dropped me off at arun-down, stereotypically Siberian dormitory.This dormitory had no information on my ar-rival. After a long and painful conversationwith the floor mother, I realized two things.First, I was at the wrong address and neededto find my actual dormitory. Second, I was notfully prepared to immerse myself in Russianculture. After two months, I could approachand converse with people with confidence. Al-though my accent was strong and my grammarwas atrocious, I could get my point across, andI could nearly always understand spoken Rus-sian. I used my newly-acquired language skillsto pass the foreign-language exam required forPh.D. candidates in mathematics.”

Jesse JohnsonDoctoral candidate, Mathematics

31

“The internship at Arcas Paris was an oppor-tunity for me to develop and expand my skillsas an architecture student, and it providedme with a unique experience to be exposedto French culture and architectural traditionas well as the firsthand experience at an ar-chitecture firm in the professional field. Thetwo months in Paris gave me not only a betterunderstanding of European architectural stylesand ideas, but also a deeper appreciation of Eu-rope itself.”

HaMin JooClass of ’14, Major in Architecture

“I was overwhelmed with people’s generos-ity with their time and their interest in my re-search. My interviewees often volunteered thenames and contact information of other peo-ple they thought would be helpful. Several ex-pressed interest in reading the final report. Per-sonal anecdotes told during the interviews gavemy topic a more personal dimension. Several ofmy meetings continued after I had concludedthe formal interview as we continued to discussa variety of topics over coffee. The research ex-perience in Dublin gave me valuable interviewexperience and a passion to continue conduct-ing original, qualitative research.”

Hilary KellyClass of ’12, Major in Political Science

32

“This summer I had the opportunity to studythe legacy of the US 10th Mountain Divisionand the impact that they had during the Ital-ian campaign of World War II. In addition tothe vast knowledge I accumulated about thedivision, I also gained valuable research andstudy experience. It was the first time that I con-ducted individual research outside of the class-room. I was forced to be outgoing and inquisi-tive, or risk not achieving my research goals. Asa result, I learned to budget my time, order mypriorities and master the European transporta-tion system. I became an active note taker, car-rying a notebook everywhere I went. I also be-gan to keep a daily diary for the first time inmy life. I believe that all of these elements com-bined to give me an enriching and productiveexperience that has made me a better learner.”

David KenneyClass of ’14, Majors in History and Economics

“Before my trip to France, I was unsure howlanguage study would fit into my educationor professional plans. Yet now, I am explor-ing future opportunities to further my stud-ies, from summer internship opportunities, toNotre Dame’s new program that allows directmatriculation at the French university Diderotin Paris, to a possible teaching fellowship inFrance after graduation. The best thing I cansay about my summer study abroad experi-ence is that it has transformed me from a stu-dent who happened to be studying French toa student who genuinely enjoys French classesand cannot wait to pursue future opportunitiesto apply the French language in francophonecountries.”

Matthew KiblerClass of ’15, Major in Philosophy

33

“Aside from giving me an opportunity to ex-perience the challenges and excitements of do-ing on-site original research with material thatwould not have been otherwise accessible, thisgrant allowed me to connect with my FrenchRevolution course, and with my French studiesin general, in a broader way. It became clear,during my time in Paris, that the French Rev-olution is not simply academic, but is a realhistorical entity that has had a true impact onthe French identity. I could see this in thestreets of Paris, where I accidentally stumbledupon a monument celebrating the very eventsof the Revolution that I had been spending thesemester studying, and I could see it in the peo-ple of Paris, who were interested in my researchand who were more than willing to share in-sights and advice from a French perspective.”

Rebecca KiblerClass of ’13, Major in Psychology

“I spent five weeks in Sorrento, Italy atSant’Anna Institute–Sorrento Lingue (SASL).As the goal was to improve spoken languageskills, I’m glad that I did everything I did whenI was in Sorrento. I spoke Italian during myclasses, and to people at the office, but I thoughtmy host family made a huge difference becausethey were constantly speaking Italian to andaround me. I feel that my host family gave methe opportunity to be constantly surrounded bythe Italian language, instead of spending theday hearing and speaking Italian but returningto an apartment with a roommate who I wouldmost likely speak English with. I definitely feelthat this summer greatly improved my Italianand my comfort level speaking it.”

Kaitlyn KielyClass of ’14, Majors in Computer Science and Italian

34

“I presented my first paper at a conference ofthe major academic society in my field. Attend-ing the conference was interesting, as it exposedme to the latest research, and offered many op-portunities through working seminars, meals,and informal conversations to meet some of thebest scholars, including several whose books Ihave relied upon in my own research. Amongthese interactions I was able to meet a scholarwhose current work informs my own, and weagreed to keep abreast of each other’s ongoingefforts for further study and eventual publica-tion. The comments and suggestions of sem-inar participants on my paper will assist meto improve it towards publication in a peer-reviewed journal.”

Richard KleeDoctoral candidate, Theology

“The Nanovic break grant has given me theunique and significant opportunity to discoverfirst-hand the policies behind Chinese ForeignDirect Investment in Ireland. I had the oppor-tunity to meet with government representativesand representatives from China throughout myweek in Ireland to discuss the issue of ChineseForeign Direct Investment, and more broadly,the presence of China in Ireland. Throughfunding by the Nanovic Institute, I was ableto break into research at the international level,and worked on the foundation for my seniorthesis, making connections that will help mefurther develop my research.”

Deanna KolbergClass of ’14, Major in Political Science

35

”A unique practice of Le Case delle Piccole Sorelledei Poveri in Rome that I did not see in otherreligious houses was the praying of the An-gelus in the Roman way. While it is not un-usual for the Sisters to pray the Angelus, theaddition of three ‘Glorias’ at the end of the An-gelus was. With this example, the Sisters ex-plained that their order adapted to the culturewhere they are serving. More information onspecific prayers and practices as seen in the Ro-man Home will be explained and used in my se-nior thesis on the French spirituality of the LittleSisters of the Poor.”

Sandra LaguertaClass of ’13, Major in Theology

“The Northern Ireland Social Concerns Sem-inar was an amazing experience that I couldnever have anticipated. Everyone I interactedwith while in County Armagh was extremelycordial and generous. The opportunity to sharemy skills with the students at Lismore Ju-nior High, and build relationships between theProtestant and Catholic school children, will bean unforgettable experience. I left Ireland hav-ing helped built a professional working websitefor the Lios Mor Fort and as part of a communitythat had become very dear to me.”

Michelle R. LauxClass of ’12, Major in Program of Liberal Studies

36

“I accomplished the vast majority of the re-search goals I set out with at the beginningof the summer. I believe that this summer,with the support of the Nanovic Institute, Iexperience the most growth as a scholar andresearcher than during any other experience.This was the direct result, I believe, of theamount of independence I was afforded to ex-ecute my research plan. For this fantastic expe-rience and for the work I was able to conduct inIreland, I am truly thankful.”

Philip LettieriClass of ’13, Majors in Biology and Anthropology

“It was exhilarating to experience the actualwork of a master architect after spendingmonths studying him. In my two weeks in andaround Turin, I was able to visit twelve build-ings built by Bernardo Vittone. Six of the twelveI focused my time analyzing and document-ing by means of photographs, sketching, andnotes. These drawings, notes, and photographswill provide me with valuable knowledge formy thesis and for years to come. The major-ity of Vittone’s buildings are in small workingtowns. These projects had meager budgets, andyet these buildings are some of his best. It isthese buildings that I find to be an inspiration.No matter the scale of the project or the budget,a beautiful building can still be built.”

George LoguschCandidate, Master of Architecture

37

“During my study at the Institut de Tourainein Tours, France, I got more exposure to Euro-pean culture than ever before. Cultural diver-sity is not just different cuisines or architecturalstyles; rather, it is reflected by people’s differ-ent interests and mindsets in politics, religions,sports, cultures, traditions and other issues. Be-side learning French and exploring the country,I also started realizing that outside my usuallife circle, there is an extremely broad worldwhere people lead thoroughly distinctive livesfrom mine. Interacting with people from differ-ent countries not only expanded my breadth ofknowledge, but also, more importantly, taughtme to perceive differences in an objective andinclusive way.”

Qiancheng LuClass of ’14, Major in Accountancy

“The support I received from the Nanovic In-stitute for European Studies allowed me to con-duct a two-part research trip. First I travelled toDublin, Ireland where I spent four weeks work-ing out of the National Archive of Ireland andthe National Folklore Collection at UniversityCollege Dublin. I spent the last two weeks ofmy trip in London conducting research at theBritish National Archive. The work that I com-pleted with this grant from the Nanovic Insti-tute will broaden the reach of my project’s im-plications beyond Ireland to nineteenth centuryEurope in general.”

Jessica LumsdenDoctoral candidate, History

38

“The research that I was able to pursuethanks to the generosity of the Institute fa-cilitated mammoth strides in my intellectualand professional progress. Working at theBritish and Bodleian libraries, I combed fifteenmanuscripts for evidence of a particular indul-gence circulating in the late-fourteenth- andearly-fifteenth-centuries, the ‘Mass of St. Gre-gory.’ Thanks to the Institute’s generous sup-port, I have now embarked on an intellectualtrajectory that I expect will continue to uncovernew information and open up diverse avenuesfor research.”

Erica MachulakDoctoral candidate, English

“I spent the majority of my time in Paris inter-viewing the photographers who contributed toAmnesty International’s exhibit Dignite in or-der to create QR codes for the DIGNITY exhibitwhich will be debuting in the United States atthe Snite Museum of Art this January as partof “Rousseau 2012/DIGNITY.” While in Paris,I participated in five interviews with photog-raphers Phillipe Brault, Guillaume Herbaut, Jo-hann Rousselot, and Michail Zumstein, and theexhibit’s curator Yves Prigent. Yves Prigentand each of the photographers demonstratedinspiring passion”

Lea MalewitzClass of ’12, Majors in French and Arabic

39

“Over the past two semesters, I visited theCleveland Museum of Art, the Art Instituteof Chicago, and the Metropolitan Museumof Art in order to examine twenty-six draw-ings of male and female nudes in their col-lections and gain access to seventeenth- andeighteenth-century drawing treatises in their li-braries. These trips offered a valuable oppor-tunity to closely observe works on paper thatare almost always kept in storage (for reasonsof conservation), and to supplement my previ-ous research in preparation for a small exhibi-tion that will be mounted in the spring of 2013at the Snite Museum of Art.”

Brigid ManganoMaster’s candidate, Art, Art History & Design

“Because of my Nanovic European Internshipand Service Grant, I was able to spend six weeksthis summer working in the Paris office of thearchitectural firm Arcas Europe. Arcas Paris isa small firm with one principal architect, Mau-rice Culot, one partner and three permanentemployees. Working in the office of Arcas Paris,I was able to meet some important European ar-chitects. I even received a signed copy of a bookon Pier Carlo Bontempi’s work Piazza Nuovawhich had sections written by Maurice Culot.I am hopeful that working at Arcas Paris thissummer will help me to secure a job after I grad-uate this upcoming spring. It will be helpful tohave a letter of recommendation from MauriceCulot as well as Arcas Paris on my resume andwork from this summer in my portfolio.”

Claire MartellClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

40

“I traveled to England from March 21 to April7, 2012 in order to present a paper at the “RoyalBody Conference” at Royal Holloway, Univer-sity of London. A secondary purpose of thetrip was to conduct research for an article whichhas been accepted for publication in 2013 in thejournal Oeuvres et Critiques. The article is on thepolitical thought of Jean Boucher, a member ofthe Parisian Catholic League during the FrenchWars of Religion who was exiled to Brussels af-ter 1594. One scholar from the University ofWarwick was interested in serving as an outsidereader of my dissertation.”

John McCormackDoctoral candidate, History

“Inspired by my interest in street art, myproject, initially ‘Street Art off the Streets: So-viet Graffiti in the Reichstag,’ was borne froman interest in the Cyrillic graffiti left by So-viet forces that vandalized the German parlia-ment building during their successful seizureof Berlin in 1945. Supplemented by a gener-ous grant, I traveled to Berlin over a week-long break in October 2011 to conduct onsite re-search at the Reichstag and to see firsthand thescrawled remnants of an unforgotten past. Arethey a scar on the visage of a recovering cul-ture or simply a documentation of the past asthe country looks optimistically towards its fu-ture?”

Shannon McNaughtClass of ’12, Majors in Art History & French (Sup-plemental)

41

“Over the course of two weeks in London, I ex-amined the changes in British counterterrorismand immigration policy, especially in light ofthe upcoming Olympics. Without the supportof Nanovic, this research would not have beenpossible. It was only through traveling to Lon-don and experiencing the city that I was ableto fully grasp the meaning of multiculturalismand the impact of immigration on society. Thein-person interviews, visit to the Migrations ex-hibit, the tour of New Scotland Yard and Parlia-ment, the trip to visit the caseworker in the sub-urbs, and the visit to the Home Office could nothave happened without actually going to Lon-don. Because of the support of Nanovic, my re-search took on a new depth.”

Kelly McRavenClass of ’13, Major in Political Science

“I was able to conduct archival research formy dissertation, entitled ‘Ireland, the UnitedStates and the “Nation of Immigrants,” 1919-1965.’ I visited the United Nations Archivesand University College-Dublin for approxi-mately a two-week period. During the courseof my writing, I identified issues that requiredme to consult various private papers again. Iplan to present the findings in a conference pa-per at the upcoming British Isles and the Conti-nent conference at Notre Dame, sponsored bythe Nanovic Institute.”

Meredith MeagherDoctoral candidate, History

42

“While widely considered the international‘one-percent,’ investment banks have been par-ticularly affected by the global economic down-turn. The banking industry has changed, per-haps forever, due to diminishing returns on in-vestments, pervasive risks, and the new waveof regulations from a variety of governments.My break travel and research through the In-stitute allowed me the incredible opportunityto directly learn about the financial crisis fromthe perspective of financial institutions. In mymeetings with tier-1 investment banks in Lon-don, United Kingdom, and Zurich, Switzer-land, I gained valuable insight on the currentsituation of the Euro and the strategies that maylead to future economic recovery.”

Paul MickanClass of ’14, Major in Economics

“This summer, I spent three months as an in-tern at an immunology lab in Helmholtz Zen-trum Munchen Haematologikum, located in theGrohadern district. I investigated the expres-sion levels of several microRNAs during thedifferentiation of regulatory T cells. Research-ing in Germany made me consider possibili-ties that I would not have considered other-wise–like doing a Master’s or Ph.D. degree inGermany.”

Young MoonClass of ’14, Majors in Biology and Anthropology

43

“Although brief, this trip to Rome was enor-mously productive and illuminating. My ob-jective was twofold. First, I needed to returnto the Vatican Library, which I was able tovisit the previous summer thanks to an Insti-tute grant. Second, I was to visit the Archivesof the Carmelite Order to study a manuscriptthat was supposed to contain another copy ofthe text I am editing for my dissertation, andwhich I had not yet been able to see, either on-site or through a facsimile. The second part ofmy trip yielded unexpected, fascinating results.I am profoundly grateful to Nanovic for sup-porting my research in Europe, and I am de-lighted that the past two trips the Institute hasfunded have proven to be so fruitful, yieldingresults that will genuinely change the field innew and exciting ways.”

David MorrisDoctoral candidate, History

”This summer, I studied the legacy of 19th cen-tury Parisian architecture in Paris as well asBrussels. The research I conducted this sum-mer gave me the opportunity to not only fur-ther my knowledge of the French capital, butto also further the development of my thesis asan architecture student. I was able to meet withscholars familiar with the development of Parisunder the Second Empire and its influence onthe continuing developments within Paris andabroad. In addition to my meetings, I foundmyself in the Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville deParis and the library of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal.The research I conducted there was a synthesisof both acquiring and obtaining copies of suchhistorical maps as well as personally creatingaccurately scaled architectural sketches and di-agrams of the current cities.”

Dorothy NguyenClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

44

“My political philosophy dissertation on globaljustice, which asks how liberal democraciesought to treat severely oppressive regimes, andexplores the possibility of expanding the EUmodel globally, has been gathering pace in thelast year, as several components of the projecthave been accepted for publication as journalarticles. The Institute’s support of my presenta-tions as several international conferences havehelped these projects in too many ways to enu-merate, so for that support, I am grateful.”

Shmuel NiliDoctoral candidate, Political Science

“My summer in Moscow presented me with theopportunity to live in a city amongst a societyso very different than any I have ever experi-enced, and so fascinating. Everything aboutmy time in Russia was exciting; every day wasan achievement of some sort. The opportu-nity to use Russian—this very complicated, ex-traordinary tool of communication—to accom-plish anything, to convey an idea, to order mys-tery meat from a street stand, to connect withanother human being in even the simplest ex-change, was incredibly satisfying.”

Katherine NormanClass of ’13, Majors in French and Russian (Supp.)

45

“This previous summer, I was the lucky re-cipient of the Nanovic Institute’s Peter Her-rly Internship and as such, spent my summerin Paris, France assisting former U.S. ColonelPeter Herrly in coordinating a conference onCyber Security and Cyber Defense as part ofthe Eurosatory Defense Trade Show. I am ex-tremely appreciative of all the opportunitiesthat Col. Herrly offered me during my timeabroad. Not only did he push me to acceptgreat responsibility but he rewarded my accom-plishments and introduced me to company ex-ecutives and military generals as well as theUnited States ambassador to France. I beganthe Herrly Internship application thinking thata summer in France would make for great ex-perience for me regardless of what my post-graduate plans were. By the end of my intern-ship, I knew that the internship had offered meinsight into what my future would look like.Thanks again to the Nanovic Institute and toCol. Herrly for a life-altering opportunity.”

Priscilla NyanksonClass of ’13, Majors in Political Science and History

46

“As a sophomore, I read a novel by French-Algerian author, Leila Sebbar. It was my firstintroduction to the history of the Algerian Warof Independence and the protests of October 17,1961. I first began my research on the topicthrough a grant from the Nanovic Institute inthe fall of 2011, and was able to continue it thissummer in Paris. In the coming year, I planto write my thesis in a hope of gaining furtherrecognition for this forgotten moment in Frenchhistory, and my research in Paris has alreadyproved invaluable in analyzing the way that Al-gerians remember the painful events that de-fined their era of independence. I hope to usethis research to show that the new generationsof Franco-Algerians no longer accept the politi-cal neglect and are fighting to have their storiesand the stories of their parents heard.”

Monica O’HearnClass of ’13, Major in Romance Languages & Liter-ature

“This spring, I had the opportunity to presentmy Senior Thesis at The National Conferenceof Undergraduate Research in Ogden, Utah. Ifound this conference very beneficial for con-ference experience, networking, and profes-sional development. I really enjoyed present-ing, meeting new people, learning about writ-ing, and learning about people who were do-ing similar research to me. This experience,which is crucial to my growth as a scholar, wasboth beneficial in itself and beneficial as a start-ing point to a hopefully prosperous career inacademia.”

Anna O’MearaClass of ’12, Major in Art History

47

“This semester I was awarded a grant to assistmy travels to present a paper at a conferenceheld by the Centre d’Etudes Superieures de la Re-naissance, in Tours, France. It was a particu-lar honor for me, as a junior scholar, to speakat this select gathering, as it was organized byone of the leading European centers for Re-naissance studies. Being the most junior mem-ber there, I was able to forge new relationshipsand strengthen old ones with scholars work-ing throughout Europe. Moreover, as I was theonly non-native Francophone, this was an ex-cellent opportunity to practice my French, anopportunity not to be taken for granted in aglobalizing world of European studies.”

Richard OosterhoffDoctoral candidate, History & Philosophy of Science

“Doing research in Rome was an incrediblelearning experience. I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to thumb through the handwrit-ten music of a composer whom I had studied inmusic history, and now have the opportunityto sing this music as part of my senior thesis.I’m nervous about performing music that hasbeen lost in a library for many years, becausethere is very little upon which to base my inter-pretation besides the previously published andfrequently performed Scarlatti cantatas. How-ever, I look forward to this challenge. In ad-dition, I’m excited about the possibility of ex-panding this research to more of Scarlatti’s un-published cantatas.”

Samantha OsbornClass of ’13, Major in Music

48

“My time in Madrid, Spain changed my life,and it made vital impacts on my academic self,and on how I approach different cultures. Inmy seven weeks I was able to drastically im-prove my Spanish development, give serviceto two organizations (Best Buddies of Madridand Jardines de Espana), and also begin thefirst steps of my research for my senior the-sis. I learned that I want to continue my cross-cultural research for a thesis comparing the op-portunities and lifestyles of people with disabil-ities in developed, developing and under de-veloped countries. I also clarified where to fo-cus my research and which aspects I would liketo compare.”

Alexis PalaClass of ’15, Major in Anthropology

“In the summer of 2012, by the generosityof the Nanovic Institute, I taught English inBrychovychi, Ukraine. The program was En-glish Summer School, an annual effort of theUkrainian Catholic University to create an En-glish immersion environment for their studentsand affiliated seminarians. Each teacher had aco-teacher, and the two taught roughly 10 stu-dents. My co-teacher and I were in charge ofbeginning English students. Teaching English,especially to beginners, was a unique challenge.I learned what an awful tangle of webs En-glish grammar is: for a language with almostno declensions or conjugations, it still presentsits share of woe.”

Dale ParkerClass of ’13, Major in Classics

49

“I had the opportunity to further my researchtoward a Master in Fine Arts degree in studioart by traveling to Berlin, Germany. In addi-tion, to follow up on professional contacts, I ex-tended my trip to include a stay in Barcelona,Spain. It was wonderful rubbing shoulderswith an eclectic array of international artists. Iconsider my experiences in both places to beformative in the direction of my work, and Ihave returned to Notre Dame campus ener-gized, inspired, and better equipped to developmy work here to its full potential.”

Heather ParrishMaster of Fine Arts candidate, Art, Art History &Design

“My research took me to southern Albania toexamine the impact of heritage management atButrint National Park on the nearby villages ofKsamil, ShÎndÎlli, VrinÎ, XarrÎ, and Mursi. Thisgrant allowed me to carry out research that willserve as the foundation of my senior thesis, andgranted me the opportunity for total immer-sion into a foreign culture, testing my abilityto adapt and compensate for linguistic and cul-tural differences. The analysis of the interviewsI conducted will enhance my understanding ofthe relationships between local stakeholders inprotected sites and the goals of local communi-ties. The experience of living and conductingresearch in Albania is the defining point of mycareer as a Notre Dame student.”

Suzanna PrattClass of ’13, Majors in Anthropology and PeaceStudies

50

“My research over the summer as a whole wasa critical experience for me as a university stu-dent and something that has enriched my aca-demic career. The research I did feeds into theresearch I am currently doing for my senior re-search seminar for English which looks at howwe study and ‘read’ a poem and whether it canbe read as something that is historically contin-gent or even contingent upon the poet himself.Also, my study in London has helped me tobetter prepare for pursuing research as some-thing that is at once strategic, needing signifi-cant planning and also adjustment during theprocess, and is bound to have difficulties alongthe way though it is all the more rewarding forit.”

Irene RhoClass of ’13, Major in English

“The Nanovic Grant afforded me the uniqueopportunity to conduct original research andaddress a general lack of scholarship on theTemple of Roma and Augustus. But it alsoenabled me to experience monuments and ar-tifacts that have been admired for millennia,bringing me one step closer to the works of his-torians, scholars and poets who came before methat felt the same awe and had the same ques-tions. Being able to undertake my research onthe Athenian Acropolis and amongst Romanruins was a unique privilege and an invalu-able resource for my Master’s thesis that wouldnot have been possible without the NanovicGrant.”

Anna RogersMaster’s candidate, Art, Art History & Design

51

“My research trip to the French Foreign Min-istry archives completely changed the scopeof my thesis on Syrian nationalism during theFrench Mandate. For my senior honors his-tory thesis, I am researching a Syrian nation-alist organization that advocated Syrian auton-omy from the Ottoman Empire under the aegisof France. Before going to Paris, I had accessto information about their president, ChekriGanem, and to various written works by theComite Central Syrien. What I was lacking, how-ever, was proof that the Comite was closelyworking with the French government in orderto achieve their goals. The new information Iwas able to gather will be extremely helpful indeveloping a strong argument in my thesis andin demonstrating the significance of the workof the CCS during the mandate period.”

Nathalie RosadoClass of ’12, Major in History

“This summer, I was fortunate enough to beable to work with Professor Rolf Zwaan, a cog-nitive psychologist and chair at Erasmus Uni-versity, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Duringthe weeks that I was there, I worked in an of-fice at Erasmus, reading relevant articles, creat-ing experiments, and analyzing data. I also at-tended lab meetings once a week, which wereopportunities for me to tell the other graduatestudents in the lab how my project was pro-gressing and receive feedback, as well as to hearthe graduate students’ projects and results. Ul-timately, my time working at Erasmus Univer-sity with Professor Zwaan assured my confi-dence in how I want to invest my future.”

Meghan SalomonClass of ’13, Majors in English and Psychology

52

“I interned for two months at the Holy See Mis-sion to the United Nations. The work entaileddirect cooperation and collaboration with staffmembers, detailed research on relevant issuesat the United Nations, and the formulation ofthe response of the Catholic Church to the is-sues at the United Nations. Although I wasthe youngest intern in the office by eight years,there was always opportunity for substantivework. I was responsible for producing three ofthe Mission’s six official speeches. The threestatements I researched and authored wereon the elimination of discrimination againstwomen, the human rights of migrants, and free-dom of religion. For other meetings I also pro-duced statements on the rights of refugees andpersecution of Christians.”

Nicholas SchillingClass of ’14, Major in Political Science

“To me, this summer abroad experience wasmuch more than a trip to learn German. I spenta month long with a class of students from allover the world. Without a doubt, this experi-ence has opened up my mind to the many dif-ferent ways of living. I saw what it was liketo live somewhere where all the stores closedrather early or where an extremely large por-tion of the locals biked to and from work. Ihad to try to explain to the rest of my class whyAmericans have a healthcare problem or whyI pay so much for a university education. Iheard from a native what it is like to, to this day,deal with the consequences of having ancestorsbe involved with the Holocaust. Those are thetypes of experiences that kind of stick with youon the plane ride back and influence your per-spective on what you thought you knew.”

Stephen SchroderClass of ’15, Majors in Accounting and German

53

“I served as an intern architect for eight weeksat the ARCAS Europe firm located in Paris,France. I remain very grateful to the NanovicInstitute for funding this experience. I now feelmore confident about my ability to branch outfrom what I know and do well into situationsthat require me to learn rapidly. I also cameaway valuing very strongly the work environ-ment that takes into account the professionaland personal wellbeing of an employee and in-tern. I am now much better prepared to suc-cessfully interview with national and interna-tional firms that require previous internationalexperience. It is also reassuring to know that Ican more than merely live and work in a largeforeign city. I can thrive.”

Christina ShannonClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

“The Nanovic Graduate Initiatives Grant gaveme the opportunity to present my paper at the‘Borders, Sovereignty, and Human Rights’ con-ference in Milan, Italy. My perspective on polit-ical theory and peace studies expanded as a re-sult of listening to lectures, engaging with otherItalian students and presenters, and exploringItaly’s culture. The conference reminded me ofmy passion for learning and engaging with stu-dents, thus affirming my desire to pursue a ca-reer where I can interact with students and in-tellectuals, ultimately with the goal of makinga difference in the world.”

Tamara ShayaMaster’s candidate, Kroc Institute for InternationalPeace Studies

54

“My intensive class was just that, intensive. Ev-erything was in German from the moment I gotto class, to the last day when we had to saygoodbye. Having to define and explain wordspushed us to use our expanded vocabulary inconcrete, realistic situations while we were stillin class. When I wanted to get groceries I had tospeak German, when I would buy a cup of cof-fee I needed to use German, when I went to mu-seums the display cards were in German, ev-erything I saw and heard was overwhelminglyin German. I was forced to integrate Germaninto every aspect of my life and it paid off, at theend of my time there in Munich I was thinkingin German and could converse fluidly in every-day speech.”

Kimberly SmithClass of ’15, Major in Mechanical Engineering

“I spent two weeks this January conducting re-search at the Irish Film Institute (IFI) in Dublin.Much of my research focused on films that arecommercially unavailable and thus unavailableto the students and faculty at Notre Dame. It isnow possible for our library to purchase suchfilms, and start building its Irish film collectionto cater to our outstanding Irish Studies De-partment as well as the students and faculty ofthe Film, Television, and Theater Department.Hopefully new access to these previously un-available films will help inspire a growth in aca-demic interest in the Irish film industry. More-over, it is my hope that it will broaden other stu-dent’s perspectives on the politics of film as itdid mine.”

Eilis SmythClass of ’13, Majors in English and Philosophy

55

“When I left the United States in late May Iwas very idealistic about what awaited me inFinland. I had read countless books and ar-ticles about the success of the Finnish educa-tion system and from those I had created a pic-ture perfect ideal of what this system wouldbe like. Unlike many realities that do not liveup to such high expectations, the reality in Fin-land was even more amazing than the pictureI had created. My trip to Finland was an in-valuable experience for both my research intothe Finnish education system, but more impor-tantly the dreams and ideals that I have forwhat the American education system can be.”

Alexandra SoissonClass of ’14, Major in American Studies

“My experience in Vienna provided me witha wealth of knowledge about the Museum-sQuartier Wien’s (MQ) role within the ur-ban environment, both through the informa-tion garnered through interviews with Vien-nese professionals and my own analysis of theMQ’s location, facilities, and advertising cam-paigns. Many of the insights that I gatheredduring my time in Vienna, especially in rela-tion to the MQ’s outdoor courtyards, are no-tably absent from the existing academic litera-ture on the MQ, and this opportunity to collectdata on-site, and within the MQ itself, will aidme tremendously. Many thanks!”

Sarah SpielerClass of ’12, Majors in Marketing and Art History

56

“This summer, I participated in the distinctlySpanish way of healing for seven weeks in a pe-diatric oncology internship at the Val d’HebronUniversity Hospital of Barcelona, Spain. Notonly was I able to observe the cutting edge ofoncological practices, but also I had an unpar-alleled opportunity to reflect on the relation-ship between a society and its medical care.While Spanish medicine is not without prob-lems, particularly in light of Spain’s currenteconomic crisis, the medical professionals atVal d’Hebron University Hospital exemplifiedpersonalism in medicine. After my experiencein Barcelona, I am newly convicted to follow intheir footsteps: to practice compassion and hu-manity as a physician and to use the best of myculture to the advantage of my patients.”

Kathryn SquiersClass of ’14, Majors in History and Arts & LettersPre-Health (Supplementary)

“Over Spring Break, I was fortunate enough toreceive from the Nanovic Institute the SeniorTravel and Research Grant, which allowed meto travel to Paris, France for one week. While Iwas there, I was able to study at the BibliothequeHistorique de la Ville de Paris and to visit themarkets about which I wrote my research pa-per, Les Halles. I feel that I and my researchtruly profited from my trip to Paris over SpringBreak. I was able to access literature at the li-brary that was not available to me here at NotreDame. More importantly, I was able to exploreLes Halles itself, and discover how much thearea has changed in the last 150 years. I amtruly thankful to the Nanovic Institute for al-lowing me this opportunity.”

Sarah SradersClass of ’12, Major in Romance Languages

57

“The only real way to perfect an accent andcolloquial speech is by spending time speak-ing the target language in the target country. Iwas in Italy for two months this past summerand spent four hours every day in intensive lan-guage classes at the Cultura Italiana languageinstitute, focusing on conversation. The lan-guage school provided exactly what I was hop-ing to experience: native speakers, cultural im-mersion (with multiple nationalities!), and as-sistance with the weak areas of my grammar.Apart from an improvement in my teaching, Iam hoping that the extra time spent on my lan-guage will help me as I apply to Ph.D. programsthis fall.”

Susanna StamileMaster’s candidate, Romance Languages & Litera-ture

“My advanced language training grant hasmade possible for me an opportunity that oth-erwise would not be within the realm of possi-bility; as such, this grant has provided the oc-casion, not only for the direct results and ef-fects to be gained during the summer experi-ence, but the subsequent, longer-term effectsthat this opportunity provides in my academicand personal life. As regards the short-termeffect and results during the summer, I wasable to give a lecture in French at the Sorbonneon the philosophical and religious thought ofRene Descartes and its influence in contempo-rary philosophy. The amount gained duringmy time abroad is difficult to calculate how-ever, since my experience in Paris has plantedin me more seeds for growth than are possibleto quantify.”

Troy StefanoDoctoral candidate, Theology

58

“With funding from the Nanovic Institute, Iwas able to take an internship position withthe American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festi-val. While attending the festival on the beauti-ful French Riviera and experience French cul-ture was an experience I’ll never forget, themost valuable part of my experience that com-plements my film studies back on campus iswhat I learned about the film industry as a busi-ness. While my film studies have taught mehow to create and analyze the creative prod-uct of a film, my experience with the AmericanPavilion showed me how film works in the con-text of capitalism.”

Claire StephensClass of ’13, Major in Film, Television, & Theatre

“My grant was used for a four-week inten-sive language course at the Goethe-Institute inBerlin. I think my experience in Berlin hasenriched my research and intellectual devel-opment immeasurably. Even returning to oldprojects like papers I have been working on:one on Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit and oneon the relationship between Frege and Wittgen-stein, two German-speaking philosophers oflanguage. I feel like I can better contextual-ize my research in terms of the history of Ger-man thought up to the present. The programhas also further encouraged me to consider-ing returning to Germany to do research underprofessors there, through a Fulbright or DAADgrant.”

Alexander SternDoctoral candidate, Philosophy

59

“In March, with funding through the NanovicInstitute, I was able to recreate a part of W.G. Sebald’s text, The Rings of Saturn, first-hand.For five days, I roamed all through East An-glia, visiting numerous sites from the book andrecreating many of the fascinating photos takenby Sebald (pictured at left) and included inthe text, only now, mine depicted a land 20years older. I slept in bed and breakfasts inthe coastal towns of Lowestoft and Southwoldand ventured out each day to tackle a new partof the countryside. The experience was mind-boggling.”

William StewartClass of ’12, Major in the Program of Liberal Studies

“I am very grateful to the Nanovic Institute forEuropean Studies for offering me the opportu-nity to explore the codex of German architec-ture in person and to meet with German archi-tects in preparation for my thesis project. Thetruths I have learned and the buildings I havestudied with sketches and measurements dur-ing my trip to Germany are crucial to my aca-demic work and to my advocacy for traditionand beauty in modern building.”

Gabrielle StroikClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

60

“The highlight of all my time at the WellcomeLibrary in London came on the sixth day ofmy journey, when I was allowed into the RareMaterials room to handle and read WilliamBuchan’s Domestic Medicine, an original medicaltext from the 18th century. I had handled rarebooks before, in my English courses at NotreDame, and so I was prepared with the propertraining. But the excitement of using such arare work for my own research took what I hadlearned in those courses to a new level, as Iwas able to use such rare materials as referencefor my own studies. I wasn’t just admiring thebook for its age and rarity; I was reading andexamining its meaning, in order to get a livingpicture of medicine in the 18th century.”

Anna SundboClass of ’13, Majors in Biological Sciences and En-glish

“I was able to present a paper of mine at a con-ference held at University of York on Decem-ber 9, 2011. I received a number of insightfulcomments during the question and answer pe-riod that will be useful when I prepare the pa-per for publication this coming spring. Oneprofessor asked me for a copy of the paper toshare with one of his graduate students who isalso writing a dissertation on Heidegger. It isthis sort of connection and exchange of ideasthat made attending this conference especiallyworthwhile.”

Joshua TepleyDoctoral candidate, Philosophy

61

“During my week in Paris, I was able to readand analyze multiple texts by Flora Tristan atthe Bibliotheque Marguerite-Durand, includingbooks, essays, and even letters she had writ-ten to other contemporaries. By studying herworks in French, I was able to analyze her radi-cal feminist thought and how her own utopianphilosophy relates to that of Rousseau. By visit-ing the library, I gathered a significant amountof material that was absolutely indispensable tomy studies of this feminist philsopher. Visitingthe Bibliotheque allowed me to take my learningoutside the classroom and to embark on a self-created learning experience that stimulated myintellectual curiosity and satisfied my desire toimmerse myself in Parisian culture.”

MayaJoy ThodeClass of ’12, Major in Romance Languages & Liter-atures

“I was able to meet with French filmmakerDelphne Moreau and follow the filming ofher documentary that will be released in June2012 on the 300th anniversary Jean-JacquesRousseau’s birth. On the week long trip to Parisand the French department of Oise, I gainedvaluable insight about how the French are com-memorating Rousseau in 2012. My week inFrance was a wonderful capstone to my expe-rience as a French major at Notre Dame andallowed me to use my language and researchskills while engaging with native French speak-ers. I am extremely thankful to the Nanovic In-stitute for the opportunity.”

Monica TownsendClass of ’12, Majors in French and Political Science

62

“Thanks to the Nanovic Graduate Travel &Research Grant, I was able to continue gath-ering research that is vital to my disserta-tion, which challenges the dominant view thatItalian emigration literature invariably depictsLatin America in terms of its difference fromItaly. Beyond consulting key texts for my doc-toral research, my time abroad was additionallyproductive because it permitted me to developcontacts with leading Italian researchers in thefield of Italian emigratio”

Sara TroyaniDoctoral candidate, Ph.D. in Literature

“With many thanks to The Nanovic Institute, Iwas able to present a paper at the CHArt 2011Symposium in London. The conference, enti-tled ‘The Challenge of Ubiquity in Digital Cul-ture,’ brought together academics and profes-sionals from various fields to discuss the in-undation of digital information that affects ourday-to-day lives. It was a fascinating experi-ence for me, and I am truly grateful that I wasable to attend such a thought-provoking sym-posium.”

David TrujilloMaster’s candidate, Art History

63

“Working at the European Parliament broughtcertain Notre Dame class lectures to life. Inmy European Politics class, I had learned aboutthe history and formation of the EuropeanUnion—and here I was living in its present! Ihad learned in class about the rotating pres-idency—and here I was watching its transi-tion. I had known that the six main institu-tions worked together as checks and balanceson each other, but not until I was sitting in acommittee meeting did I really understand thetensions and obstacles that each political bodyfaces. This internship truly threw me into themiddle of it all—writing speeches on develop-ing economies, researching and writing up hu-man rights violations, and vetting drafts of pro-posed legislation. I worked hard, learned a lot,and loved every minute of it.”

Catherine UnderwoodClass of ’13, Majors in Philosophy and French

“I flew to Rome to uncover the broader con-text of a unique text that I found in a smallarchive in Lima, and chose as the basis for myHistory honors thesis. I investigate the Histo-ria de la Provincia del Per’ that the Spanish mis-sionary and Jesuit Diego Francisco Altamirano(1625-1715) wrote between 1711 and his death.The three weeks I spent in Rome helped mefind helpful connections between Altamirano’stext and contemporary documents includingarchival manuscripts, paintings, and church ar-chitecture. Reflecting on my thesis full-time insuch an inexhaustibly rich and imaginative set-ting yielded an ambitious but clear outline forthe project and exciting questions and insightswith which to frame it.”

Joseph VanderZeeClass of ’12, Major in History

64

“From the standpoint of a history major, theU.S. War Memorials in Europe Internship wasabsolutely fantastic. Not only did I live andwork out of the beautifully historic city of Paris,my job afforded me the opportunity to go outinto the world in search of history. The mark-ers and exploits of the men and women I re-searched offered a snapshot of genuine historythat cannot be duplicated. My research was in-valuable in invigorating my love for history aswell as giving me practical experience for the indepth research necessary to document historywell.”

Macklin WagnerClass of ’14, Major in History

“How can I best describe my summer experi-ence? It stretched me not only academically,but also emotionally and personally. Livingand studying in a non-English speaking coun-try improved not only my language skills butalso my confidence in those skills, my self-reliance, and my independence. Truly, there isno replacement for time spent outside the U.S.in terms of foreign language acquisition; myFrench improved significantly in just six shortweeks.”

Julie WamserClass of ’13, Majors in Computer Science andFrench

65

“In January 2012, The Economist argued thatLondon’s future as banking capital of the worldwas under threat from regulators represent-ing both the UK Parliament and the EuropeanUnion. The article suggested that if these strongregulations against London’s banks were topass, the hundreds of banks and financial firmsin London would pick up their baggage andmove to Switzerland, Dubai, or Hong Kong. Tofind the truth, I met with consultants from JPMorgan Chase, risk analysts from Credit Suisse,executives from Bank of America Merrill Lynch,and a private wealth manager from MorganStanley. As a future employee of a financial in-stitution, this trip allowed me to really dig un-der the surface and understand the intricacy ofa major economy.”

Peter WasikClass of ’14, Majors in Accounting and Italian

“My week in Paris over Fall Break was very pro-ductive and also very moving. Overall I wouldsay that the trip was a huge success, even morethan I was hoping or expecting. I was able to es-tablish contacts at Amnesty International, andI am looking into an internship there for nextyear.”

Lauren WesterMaster’s candidate, Romance Languages & Litera-tures

66

“My Nanovic research experience allowed meto explore my interest in sustainable urban de-sign and planning by traveling to Florence,Italy. While at Notre Dame, I have studied howthe design of a city influences the lifestyle ofits citizens, which in effect impacts the envi-ronmental health and energy requirements of acity. Six days in Florence provided me ampletime to walk the city’s streets, observe the hier-archy of its roads, study its piazzas and under-stand more about the public and private realmswithin the city. Florence is a laboratory for ur-ban design, and the insights I gained will helpme as I seek a graduate degree and eventuallypursue a career in urban planning and design.”

Anne WhittyClass of ’12, Majors in Sustainable Policy and De-velopment & Environmental Science

“In applying for research funds to travel toParis and consult the French Naval Archives atthe Chateau de Vincennes, my goal was to iden-tify some relevant documents and sources thatcould useful in the writing of my senior the-sis. Having now visited the archive and exam-ined their files on the Battle of Mers-el-Kebir, Ifeel that I am in a much better position to be-gin work on my thesis, and that I have gainedvaluable insight into an important aspect of thishistorical event. I am looking forward to con-tinuing to develop my understanding of Frenchpublic opinion on this thorny issue, and I be-lieve that the quality of my final product willbe positively influenced by the fact that I haveundertaken this research.”

Ryan WilliamsClass of ’13, Major in History

67

“I was able to spend two months working inarchives critical to my dissertation. My projectexamines the debate surrounding the incorpo-ration of Quebec and 70,000 French Catholic in-habitants into the British Empire. The time Ispent working in the archives this summer al-lowed me to complete the essential research.It allows me to begin writing my dissertationin earnest with a solid base of material. I amextremely grateful for the ability to travel toBritain and work in the manuscript collectionsonly accessible through on-site research. TheNanovic Travel and Research Grant providedme with invaluable time in archives and a valu-able boost to my professional development andprospects.”

Aaron WillisDoctoral candidate, History

“This summer at ADAM Architecture inWinchester, England, was my first foot inthe architecture working world. I was givena variety of work in many parts of the firmin order to gain a well-rounded perspectiveof the practice. For once, the work I wasdoing felt very relevant. I was no longerdoing hypothetical projects, or feeling distantfrom my surroundings by studying classicalarchitecture: I was a part of the traditional andclassical building process and was not onlyworking traditionally, but living it as well.”

Diana YuClass of ’13, Major in Architecture

68

“I received funding to conduct manuscript re-search at the British Library during fall break2011, prior to a conference organized by Prof.Kathryn Kerby-Fulton at Notre Dame and heldat the University of Notre Dame’s London Cen-tre. My work explores the affinities betweenmedieval romance and religious/theologicaltexts, especially mystical treatises and hagio-graphic works, that make use of the tropes andlanguage of romance. The research I was ableto complete has enlarged my sense of what isat issue in my project, which I will continue toponder as I work on my proposal and disserta-tion. The progress I have made thus far wouldnot have been possible without the Institute’ssupport.”

Hannah ZdanskyDoctoral candidate, Ph.D. in Literature

69