I am currently involved in two major research projects. The first evolved out of an Honors College class (HC204) that I took in Fall 2010 with Dr. Paul Kubicek. After turning in my final paper regarding the European Union and their reaction to acts of genocide in both Bosnia and Darfur, Dr. Kubicek told me that this would be an interesting topic to develop into my Honors College Thesis. Under his guidance, we revised my paper and submitted it to the online Journal, the European External Affairs Review, where it was published in Spring 2011. Since then I have been expanding this topic for my Thesis. Thanks to the generous scholarships from the Honors College and International Studies Department, in October 2012 I was able to travel to Brussels, Belgium (the headquarters of the European Union) for one week to conduct further research and interviews with European Union officials. This was a very wonderful experience, allowing me to get a real feel for the European Union as well as original research data. I anticipate finishing this project by Fall 2012.

A second research project I am currently working on involves Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), democracy and attitudes towards the West in Senegal. During the Winter Semester 2012, I studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal for five months, with help from an Honors College scholarship. During my study abroad, I took an Independent Study with Dr. Matthew Fails in order to explore this topic. Under his counsel, I was able to conduct 15 illuminating interviews while I was in Dakar, regarding attitudes in Senegal towards SAPs and democracy, and complete a paper highlighting my results. Currently Dr. Fails and I are collaborating to expand this topic to include a few more case studies throughout Africa; the paper we are writing will be presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago in April 2013.

If it had not been for the opportunities provided by Oakland University to conduct undergraduate research, I would not be involved in these two research projects. My research involvement has helped me to expand my knowledge of global affairs, explore my interests in African politics and economic development, and contribute interesting and useful knowledge to the field of International Relations.  My research involvement has helped me to expand my knowledge of global affairs, explore my interests in African politics and economic development, and contribute interesting and useful knowledge to the field of International Relations, ultimately to fulfill my dream of returning to West Africa to work in the field of gender and development.