Fellowship recipients take the road less traveled

Fellowship recipients take the road less traveled

There will be no visits to the Eiffel Tower or trips to Stonehenge during Crystal Nelson and Michael Abbey's study abroad. While other college students will pack to spend time studying in traditional Western countries next year, Crystal Nelson, an undergraduate, will be heading to the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Michael Abbey, a graduate student, will be heading to Korea to develop a proposal on regional security through environmental engagement.

Nelson and Abbey's trips are supported by the National Security Education Program Fellowships (NSEP), that funds student initiatives to study abroad in countries not commonly selected as destinations. The fellowship requires participants to fulfill a service requirement with the United States government when they return.

Nelson, a sophomore English and political science major from Providence, says that she grew up watching apartheid in South Africa and South Africa's transformation into a strong, democratic nation. She has also had a great interest in the different African cultures and the turbulent sociopolitical climates of the continent. During her year in Africa, Nelson will have a chance to study the nations and cultures firsthand and look at how literature has reflected and impacted the changing society.

"I am interested in how close social and political events are tied to America's and how the literature of that society is so political without being dry. I want to look at how South Africans use literature to explore political relationships," explained Nelson.

Upon her return to the United States, she hopes to use what she has learned to complete her bachelor's degree.

"What I learn can be used as a tool here in the United States in terms of race relations and improving communication. I plan to pursue a law degree and work for the Department of State or a private sector firm to use the experiences I gained to go into developing countries and be effective there," she said.

Abbey, a graduate student studying marine affairs and community planning from Kingston, will use his fellowship to develop a proposal detailing the trade in ocean resources between North and South Korea and the impact of trade on regional security and unification issues.

Abbey will spend a year in Korea working with Kyu Seok Park, former deputy minister of fisheries and a visiting scholar at URI, and employees of the Ministries of Fisheries and Unification, fisheries cooperative officers, politicians, academics and leaders in both the South Korean and American armed forces.

When Abbey finishes his proposal, he will embark upon his service requirement and hopes to get an offer from a government research office where he can continue working on environmental and security issues.

"I love research, I really do. This affords me the opportunity to become a recognized and qualified researcher in the field. That's the benefit of the program: I have easier access to federal agencies at the federal level. Sixteen months of service to the government while being paid is an incredible opportunity," said Abbey.

"I was only able to get this fellowship because of some people who helped me all along the way," he added. "I want to say thank you to Gerry Krausse, my major professor and chief motivator, Pam Rubinoff of the Coastal Resources Center, and Cheryl Foster."

By Jennifer Smith