Alisa Hartsell Awarded Boren Fellowship

Congratulations are in order for Alisa Hartsell, doctoral student in geography, who recently received the prestigious Boren Fellowship! A Boren Fellowship provides up to $24,000 for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. She plans to study Mandarin at Shanghai International Studies University in Shanghai, China, during the 2019 calendar year. 

Alisa received her B.A. and M.A. in history at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her doctoral research, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Blue, focuses on Chinese migration through Latin America across the United States-Mexico border. Her Boren study plan focuses on intensive language study of Mandarin in order to communicate and connect more effectively with migrant interviewees. Further, the opportunity to study and to live in Shanghai bears significant weight for two reasons: it is the city through which many migrants from China leave the country, and it is located near migrant-sending communities. Upon completion of her doctoral program, Alisa intends to apply her language skills, research background, and knowledge about U.S. immigration policies and practices to real-world problems by working for the federal government in the national security arena.

Alisa heard about the Boren Fellowship through one of The Graduate College’s Shop Talks hosted by Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz, external funding coordinator. Alisa recommends taking advantage of the amazing resources provided by The Graduate College, including Dr. Hilkovitz, who Alisa calls a “powerful asset” in formulating plans and budgets for external funding.