Alisa Sánchez, a Carleton College senior from Whittier, California, was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to spend a year in Colombia examining the South American country’s constitution and human rights system.
Sánchez is among the approximately 1,200 students throughout the U.S. awarded a Fulbright Fellowship this year. She will be studying at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, and conducting an independent research project on Colombia’s Constitution and human rights system. She also will be volunteering at a human rights organization to further her research.
Carleton assistant professor of history William North is the faculty coordinator for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, which Sánchez won in her sophomore year. When he heard of her most recent fellowship, he was “delighted.”
He explains, “This was a fascinating project, and it seemed ideal for Alisa in that it brought together her intellectual passion for philosophy and curiosity about Latin American history and culture; her desire to challenge herself personally; and her commitment to expand and deepen human rights and social justice in the United States and abroad.”
Philosophy professor Perry Mason, who taught Sánchez in several courses, says, “I can’t recall a student from my years on the faculty who better embodies liberal education than Alisa.”
Indeed, Sánchez has embraced many interests while at Carleton. She will graduate next month with a degree in philosophy and language certificates in ancient Greek and Spanish. She served as a multicultural peer leader, facilitated programming for the Gender and Sexuality Center, and helped organize the Society for Women in Philosophy’s spring 2005 conference, held on the Carleton campus.
Sánchez decided to attend Carleton after participating as a high schooler in the College’s Summer Writing Program. She believes that Carleton has been the best fit for her. “It has allowed me to do so many things that I wouldn’t have been able to do at another school,” she says.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U. S. State Department. It offers students and young professionals opportunities to undertake international graduate study, conduct advanced research, participate in university teaching, and teach in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.