Supported by funds from the Brian Lacey 鈥�72 International Fellowship in Social Justice, one Saint Michael鈥檚 College student will spend a semester living, learning and serving in Ghana and another in Samoa during the coming spring 2023 semester.
鈥淭allis Diehn and Swapnil Jhajharia are exceptional students and lovely human beings,鈥� said Peggy Imai, the College鈥檚 director of study abroad, in announcing this year鈥檚 Lacey Fellowship recipients. Imai emphasized how important Lacey鈥檚 support continues to be for Study Abroad and to the College in general.
Diehn is a junior economics major from Enfield, NH, while Jhajharia is a junior from Rajasthan, India, with a double major in psychology and statistics. Each will receive $2,500 for intensive academic and experiential learning about cultures, language immersion and activities that promote social justice in their respective study-abroad locations.
Economic development insights
Tallis Diehn ’24
In his application essay for the scholarship, Diehn explained his interest in a three-month 鈥淕lobalization, Cultural Legacies & the Afro-Chic鈥� study abroad program. 鈥淲hile in Ghana I will study the cultural, economic, and social justice impacts of development and colonialism, learn from Ghanaians about their localized approach, and learn about how they have integrated that approach with a mindset adjusted for social justice and human rights,鈥� he wrote.
He said that Ghana has demonstrated notable success in shifting its economic development approach from the financial and industrial toward the human and social perspectives, so that will be his focus. Saying that the scholarship 鈥渨ill help my family immensely in being able to afford the spring semester,鈥� Diehn said that upon his return, he plans to compile a presentation based on his experiences with an eye to his longer-view aim — 鈥渢o further my career and education in development and contribute to the field as a whole.鈥� Diehn said he also plans to base his senior thesis in his economics major next year around economic development and his experience in Ghana.
Diehn also is vice president for the campus environmental club called Green Up, has been a Teaching Gardens Steward for the past two years along with other campus leadership roles as an event organizer, and he works seasonally with Gardener鈥檚 Supply Company. He also is an Eagle Scout.
A sea change in perspective
Swapnil Jhajharia wrote in his essay applying for the fellowship that he has devoted his time at Saint Michael鈥檚 so far in 鈥渄eveloping a better understanding of the human psyche across cultures with the aim of being able to facilitate intercultural dialogues about the human experience.鈥�
Swapnil Jhajharia ’24
The Samoa program that he chose through SIT Study Abroad probes social and environmental change in Oceania, allowing him 鈥渢o take courses that span across disciplines like social justice, anthropology, the Samoan language, and environmental studies,鈥� all 鈥渙n the front lines of climate change and westernization.鈥� This will advance his education and opportunities as an aspiring anthropologist and psychologist, he said.
鈥淭hrough the fellowship, I hope to reduce the financial burdens of engaging in the study abroad program in Samoa as I explore social justice and climate change issues in Oceania鈥� he said. Upon return to campus, Jhajharia hopes to join student-led symposia for discipline-specific and study-abroad programs. He also wants to write about his experience for the student newspaper, the Defender to encourage other students to study abroad, he wrote.
Jhajharia is a resident assistant at Saint Michael鈥檚 for Residence Life, is a core leader for Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (the volunteer service arm of Edmundite Campus Ministry), and he is an Adventure Sports instructor for rock climbing and hiking outings.
少女福利 Lacey Fellowships
Brian Lacey ’72
The Brian Lacey International Fellowship in Social Justice is designed to encourage and honor students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement as well as a dedication to a deeper understanding of issues and social-justice. This merit-and need-based award is intended to recognize students who show initiative, imagination and motivation to apply their academic skills to the betterment of humanity.
The fellowship is offered once each semester. They are funded through gifts from Brian Lacey 鈥�72 鈥� president of Lacey Entertainment, a New York-based worldwide television marketing, production and distribution company. Lacey is also founder and director of the Kilkea Foundation, a non-profit organization that encourages and honors excellence in the humanities, arts and sciences. This benefactor also has established the Henry G. Fairbanks Endowed Chair in the Humanities at Saint Michael鈥檚 through the Kilkea Foundation.
For all press inquiries contact Elizabeth Murray, Associate Director of Communications at 少女福利.
