CFD Team Spotlight: Liam Reynolds, Student Fellow
The Newsletter Team sat down for an interview with one of our student researchers, Liam Reynolds, for an interview about his work, passions, hobbies, and special CFD projects. The transcript of our interview is below.
CFD Team: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am from Long Island, New York. I am a history major at BU hoping to attend law school after college.
CFD Team: What is your role within the Center?
I have been a student researcher at CFD since this past January. Most of my work involves the center’s ongoing project with the International Institute of New England. Currently, I am helping design the syllabus for the Center’s upcoming workshops with IINE. I have also helped conduct a literature review on the pedagogical benefits of experiential learning programs related to forced displacement.
CFD Team: What experiences most directly led you to your role with the Center?
While I joined the Center very recently, my interest in CFD goes back at least a year. In a political philosophy course at BU last fall, I heard a guest lecture by Dr. Serena Parekh from Northeastern on the ethical dimension of the global refugee crisis. In looking for ways the study this subject further, I came across CFD and inquired about joining as a researcher. Last winter, Professor Preston informed me about the project with IINE and encouraged me to apply for research funding.
CFD Team: What inspires you about this work?
In learning about IINE and similar organizations, I have come to seriously admire people who work in resettlement. It is an issue with no easy solutions, yet many have still dedicated themselves to making a difference where they can. I think the work of resettlement agencies is both inspiring and an illuminating reminder of how challenging the issue of resettlement is.
CFD Team: Tell us about some of your passions and hobbies outside of academia. What makes you, you?
I have been playing guitar since I was six years old. At BU, I have been able perform the university’s Jazz Ensemble and other student-lead groups. Music is a massive part of my life, and it has been great to continue performing at BU.
CFD Team: What continues to draw you to the position?
My work with CFD has given me a chance to sharpen my research skills. At the same time, it has given me insight into one of the defining issues of our time. I hope that as I continue with Center, I will have the chance to learn about and interact with more individuals with experience working in resettlement. Their stories are what has made this work so fascinating for me. CFD’s mission of examining forced displacement from all perspectives is very admirable, and I am proud to be a part of it.