In the bustling city of Dakar, Senegal, Amelia Bowles ’24 is conducting a Fulbright research project that amplifies the voices of Senegalese farmers.
At Fairfield, Bowles double-majored in international studies and politics while pursuing minors in humanitarian action, French, and business law and ethics — a combination that prepared her for a project of this scale. A pivotal moment came during her sophomore year when she took a grant-writing course with professor of sociology and anthropology David Crawford, PhD. “Looking back, that class changed the trajectory of my academic and professional pursuits,” she said.
Several of Bowles’s undergraduate studies focused on Senegal, from a capstone project on sustainable agriculture to papers on gender dynamics and international aid. These experiences prepared her to examine Senegalese agricultural initiatives through the lens of local farmers, whose perspectives are often overlooked. “So much of the existing literature focuses on program design from an organizational perspective,” she noted. “What’s missing is the voice of the people these programs are meant to serve.”
Choosing the French-speaking country of Senegal for her Fulbright project was both academic and personal. Bowles attended a French immersion program from kindergarten through high school, developing fluency in the language and a deep appreciation for francophone cultures. Studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence during her junior year, she interned at a nonprofit that supports refugee integration, reinforcing her desire to work abroad. Fairfield’s Jesuit values of global engagement and radical hospitality also inspired her to foster empathy and make a meaningful impact.
