Gilman Grant Unlocks New Research for Graduate Students

From Europe and Africa, three graduate students from the Pardee School for Global Studies were given the chance to travel and conduct their research across seas, thanks to the Gilman Grant. Established through the generous support of Lynda Gilman, the grant empowers graduate students to pursue self-directed research for their MA Papers and Capstone projects.

This opportunity allowed Michael Tozeski (MAIA ’25) to visit the Netherlands and Belgium for his research on efforts towards counter-terrorism and counter-radicalization in Europe. Those he was able to interview offered nuanced insight to challenges each country faces, their relationships to one another, and what has been successful. He was introduced to local organizations that have much less visibility than the organizations at the state or national levels. Michael noted that the Gilman Grant also awarded him a holistic experience, “Beyond the academic and professional growth I experienced, this research journey had a profound impact on me as an individual. Traveling to different European countries and speaking with experts from diverse backgrounds deepened my understanding of global interconnectedness.”

The Grant also brought Seynedhee Avenie (MAIA ’25) to Ghana, where the interviews she conducted had an expansive impact on the direction of her research, which aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the challenges and opportunities of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire’s governments in engaging with diasporas. Her interviews introduced her to individuals in diasporic populations, whose voices have been absent from previous return migration literature. This revealed important comparisons between Ghanan and Kenyan diasporas, leading her to redirect her research overall. Seynedhee reflected on how getting to conduct in-person interviews humanized her work,

I would not have discovered the insights into diaspora challenges with Ghanaian and Kenyan locals if I had not visited and done interviews with people living there. There was a certain freedom that people felt in sharing the challenges and opportunities they faced in Kenya because I was there with them and could relate.

In London, Erin Gable (MAIA ’26) was able to present at the International Migration Conference. Here, she deepened her understanding and command of her work by not only revising it for audiences to understand, but also prepare for follow-up questions and conversations. Erin was able to meet and collaborate with experts at the conference, revealing both intersectionality in policy but also communities. She shared her deep appreciation for this opportunity, “I firmly hold that the Gillman Grant is essential for Pardee students to expand their horizons beyond the classroom.”