Ansari Travel Scholarship in Religion and International Affairs

Since at least the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, religion has become a crucial feature of global affairs. Whether used by groups as a language of resistance to what they see as injustice, or by governments to oppress citizens, the role of religion in international and domestic political life is complex and highly sensitive to specific contexts and cultures. The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict’s student research awards are grounded in the conviction that students experience exponential learning and growth when they can travel and learn firsthand about other cultures and societies. Critical to our vision is preparing the next generation of citizens and leaders to think more deeply and clearly about how religion influences and shapes world affairs.

Meet the Scholarship Recipients

2024 Recipient

Lauren Chapman

Majors
Political Science
Spanish

Project: The Role of Ghanaian Women in Interfaith Peacebuilding | research travel to Ghana

2023 Recipient

Adelaide Randall

Majors
Psychology
International Studies

Attended the International Association for the Psychology of Religion Groningen, Netherlands, August 21-25, 2023.

"I am grateful for the knowledge that there are people in this world with the same unyielding curiosity and intention to understand this world, to make it a better place for us all."

read Adelaide's reflection essay

2022 Recipient

Rachel Hess

Majors
Political Science
Spanish

Attended The Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics War and Peace Series: Critical Deliberations on Peacebuilding, Memory, and Narrative. Oxford, August 15-20, 2022

"The workshop explored topics in global ethics and human rights and to establish skills in peacebuilding endeavors, strategic moral diplomacy, and trauma-informed narrative training for intensive fieldwork in conflict areas."

read Rachel's reflection essay

2021 Recipient

Wen Wendt

Major
Political Science

Attended The Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics War and Peace Series: Critical Deliberations on Peacebuilding, Memory, and Narrative.

"My notebook is filled with questions, stories, and personal asides that I plan to continue revisiting and using as a jumping-off point for, hopefully, a long career in policy-centered research."

read Wen's reflection essay