Connelly will also be spending the upcoming summer in Venice, with hopes to explore feminist philosophies of religion and the intersection between women’s political organizations and communities of faith. She credits a trip to Israel last year for sparking her interest in studying religion.
“I was in Israel for entirely non-religious purposes—to visit a friend—yet a somewhat traumatic turn of events catapulted me into an experience I can only describe as ‘religious’ or ‘spiritual’ in nature,” Connelly said. “From that point on, I found myself guided toward exploring how different people navigate the most intimate, painful, and loving parts of their life.”
Scott, who worked as a union carpenter in the rebuilding of One World Trade Center, and subsequently at an addiction rehabilitation facility, is headed to Beijing to study Chinese.
“The rehabilitation facility I worked at believed that learning about the patients, their lives and their backgrounds, helped to establish a connection that led to a greater recovery rate,” he said. “The best way to affect change is through intrapersonal and situational understanding.”
Scott is interested in behavioral economics, and believes that studying large countries with diverse economic landscapes is crucial to developing globally beneficial economic policies and programs.
Each fellowship covers program fees, airfare, and living expenses, and provides specialized orientation and advising to assist fellows in leveraging their experiences abroad to enhance their future personal and professional plans.
“While we may be scattered across the globe over the summer, I feel that the intentionality, excitement, and engagement exhibited by the cohort is a unifying principle that we will all benefit from,” Connelly said.
