Pardee Students Reflect on Global Research Opportunities Made Possible by the Keylor Travel Fund

Each 12 months the William R. Keylor Travel Fund sponsors Pardee undergraduate college students to assist them pursue their worldwide journey endeavors for scholarly functions. This provides younger college students a chance to expertise the world of diplomacy and worldwide relations up shut, enriching their analysis efforts and increasing their worldview. 

Established in 2018, the fund honors Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History William Keylor’s many contributions to Boston University and the Pardee School. It was created with an preliminary contribution from Pardee School Dean’s Advisory Board member Karen Ansara. 

This 12 months the William R. Keylor Travel Fund sponsored 4 Pardee undergraduate college students: Daria Romaniuk (BA IR ’26), Jessica Lee (BA Asian Studies ’26), Mia Knezevic (BA IR ’26), and Sophia Sorcigli (BA IR ’26).

For Daria, her immersion within the German language whereas working with archival supplies launched her to a brand new appreciation for main sources, strengthened her personal interpretive expertise, and deepened her love of language.

“Traveling alone to another country with a specific research purpose in a different language was empowering. Communicating with native speakers in professional contexts required confidence and problem-solving skills that I had not fully developed before this trip. Learning and using another language in such an immersive context placed me on the path of self-discovery, and that did not disappoint: I discovered someone who strives for change and leadership.”

The Keylor Grant introduced Jessica to South Korea, the place her analysis targeted on the roles, experiences, and sources for girls and victims of sexual violence within the nation. Here, she visited museums, witnessed political protests, and carried out interviews that provided her lived experiences.

“This travel experience further inspired me to become an empathetic physician, not assuming anyone’s story and emphasizing that humans can be very resilient… I truly appreciate this opportunity to study in Korea and make meaningful progress and connections and look forward to incorporating this travel experience into my thesis and goals.”

Mia traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the place she investigated the general public reminiscence of wartime sexual violence in Bosnian society. Her interviews with curators, NGO leaders, journalists, and researchers shined mild on how various fields have contributed to this reminiscence.

“I believe that I have grown both personally and academically as a result of this travel experience. Personally, this was my first time traveling alone, which was both exciting and slightly nerve-racking, especially when issues such as lost luggage came up. However, I feel like the experience made me more confident in myself and my ability to problem-solve. My Bosnian language skills drastically improved after even just one week, as several of my interviewees felt more comfortable speaking in Bosnian during the interviews.”

Sophia took this chance to not solely discover how the USSR collapse affected the inhabitants in Georgia, however her personal familial and cultural ties to the nation. She spoke with representatives from each the United Nations House, the European Union Mission, the University of Georgia, and the Rondeli Foundation Think Tank who knowledgeable her analysis and clarified how every group works and their future potential.

“Overall this trip continued to drive me to ask challenging questions and be okay with the fact that Georgia’s plentiful history, culture, and deep political polarization are still unsolved and the realities of these civilians, as well as our conversations prove the extent to which Georgia remains on the path of development.”

Click on the hyperlinks under to learn the total reflections from the recipients of the 2026 William R. Keylor Travel Fund.

DariaRomaniuk_Reflection

JessicaLee_Reflection

MiaKnezevic_Reflection

SophiaSorcigli_Reflection

 

 

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