What inspired you to study at DPIR?
I attended Georgetown University for my undergraduate degree, and was fully immersed in the hustle and bustle of studying politics in Washington D.C. When it came to my graduate studies, I knew I wanted an academic experience that had a more theoretical, historical focus - and that’s precisely what is offered in my programme here at DPIR.
Can you tell us a little more about your research?
I research women’s intellectual history within international relations, so my goal is to excavate the ways in which women’s thought and practice has shaped the conduct of the international system today. Put simply, I investigate the intersection of gender, power, and expertise at the international level. My thesis highlights the life and work of Lillian D. Wald, a pioneering nurse and social reformer in early twentieth century America and argues that her novel method of nursing was a gendered practice that allowed her to gain unprecedented influence, both nationally and internationally, for a woman in that era. She was, if an untraditional one, a diplomat in her own right.
What do you enjoy most about life in DPIR?
Life in the department is endlessly stimulating - there is always a seminar, a lecture, a panel talk I can pop into and learn something new. I punctuate my week with different talks and colloquia because I find they make for the best kinds of study breaks. My approach to my studies has been so expanded by those brief immersions into others’ work, and I feel so much more confident in conducting my own research because I so often get the privilege of peeking into the process, methods, and theoretical approaches that others use thanks to these events.
What lessons do you think you’re learning that you’ll take through life?
DPIR has served as a refreshing reminder that research is a community activity, and that peers are an essential part of the academic process. Some of the most helpful conversations I’ve had about my research have been the casual chats I’ve happened to have with fellow students, or brief exchanges I’ve had with my supervisor. As someone wishing to pursue an academic career, I hope to maintain that ethos of community as I further my research.
What are your future plans?
I am completely enamored with my subject, and I plan to expand my MPhil project into a doctorate, with the goal of hopefully becoming a professor!
Finally, what piece of advice or message would you give to prospective DPIR students?
The study of politics and international relations is endlessly creative, and there is a spot for everyone at DPIR - from the historically-minded archivists (like me!) to the quantitative game theoreticians (definitely unlike me!)