Global Activities Scholars Program Students

Mariam (she/her/hers) is interested in learning about how systems and programs can fail its intended audience and the general consequences of working reactively rather than proactively. Her undergraduate studies in journalism, public relations, and philosophy cultivated her curiosity and encouraged her to advocate for others, to challenge traditional modes of thought, and to think critically about the ripple effect of every decision. Professionally, she worked in annual giving where she educated students about the power of community and engaged them in philanthropic activities. As a first generation Afghan, she is excited to be interning at a legal aid non-profit where she provides support in immigration cases. As a GASP scholar, Mariam hopes to learn about successful international social programs and systems that vary greatly from the approach taken in the United States. She believes that in order for radical change to occur, everyone must leave their egos at the door and welcome ideas that work rather than compete over credit. In her free time she oscillates between nihilistic and existential crises, but combats the two by listening to pop punk bands from the mid 2000s, looking for the moon in the sky, and rereading The Alchemist once a year.

Melody (she/her/hers) is from Wilmington, Delaware, and received a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Peace Studies from Barry University in Miami, Florida, where she spent her formative years. Melody studied abroad in Indonesia at Universitas Airlangga, concentrating on Multicultural Communications and Relations and Religious Pluralism, and teaches English online to students located primarily in East Asia. Melody has a music-focused arts background that includes recording and performing songs of freedom and empowerment, creative writing, expressive arts in social work practice, and multi-disciplinary arts program management for youth in non-profit settings. She considers artistic disciplines to be effective vehicles with the political agency needed for raising awareness and creating change. Melody joined the Global Activities Scholars Program to gain more experience with global social work settings and empower her plans to address issues caused by international conflicts, poverty, and economic exploitation. She is honored to continue her education as a Global Activities Scholar at the University of Michigan.

Melody will spend the summer in Accra, Ghana, with the Pan African Heritage Museum leveraging social work knowledge and skills within the development and mission-aligned programs of the organization.

Reilly (she/her/hers) grew up in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and recently graduated from Grove City College where she studied Social Work and Spanish. Her undergraduate field placement was at a shelter for unaccompanied minors, which sparked her passion for working with immigrant and refugee populations in the United States. She also experienced many international travels, including a summer in the Dominican Republic, a semester in Spain, and smaller trips to Uganda and around Europe. These opportunities gave Reilly an appreciation for cultural differences and a greater understanding of showing cultural humility in cross-cultural interactions. In her free time, Reilly enjoys hiking, spending time with family, and investing in her local church. Reilly joined the Global Activities Scholars Program to further develop her skills working with international populations and to expand her competency in implementing effective and inclusive community change, both locally and worldwide.

Over the summer, Reilly is excited to be working in Baltimore with Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Service (LIRS). She will be working with unaccompanied refugee minors in their therapeutic foster care program.

Stephanie A. (she/her/hers) is from Westchester, New York, and attended Stonehill College where she graduated in 2018 with her Bachelor in Healthcare Administration and a minor in Sociology. Stephanie is passionate about advocating for others and equal healthcare access. Being bilingual, Stephanie has had experience working with the LatinX community and is now doing her field placement at CHASS in Southwest Detroit. She hopes to have an international field placement over the summer where she can learn more about people, and communities, different than her. Whenever Stephanie is not in class or at field you could find her with her Corgi, Rubi.

Over the summer, Stephanie will be working in Chicago with Asian Human Services. She will primarily be working on different programs the organization has to offer for their geriatric population.

Brandon was born in Orlando, Florida but grew up all over the United States. He graduated from Hope College with his BSW. During his time at Hope, he spent a lot of time working on different projects that dealt with supporting international students and at-risk youth. After graduation, he took a job teaching youth English in Daito-Shi, Japan. During which, he found a passion working in a global setting which inspired him to seek out what social work looks like on a global scale. As a GASP student in the MSW program he hopes to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work in a global context.

Over the summer, Brandon will be working in Oakland, California with the International Rescue Committee. He will be working with the Health and Wellness team focusing on prevention and early interventions.

Bryant received a BA in international relations from Michigan State university and studied abroad in Israel, Turkey, and Azerbaijan before completing an internship with the United Nations Development Programme in Azerbaijan. For the next three years, he worked as an English teacher at Pioneers Baccalaureate School in Nablus, Palestine, where he became interested in school social work in the international context. Bryant joined the Global Activities Scholars Program in order to learn about how social workers can support alternative models of international development and plans to work in international monitoring and evaluation. His other interests include permaculture farming, cooperative housing, and intentional communities.