EURUS is very pleased to announce that MA students Mohammad (Ali) Bahman and Anika Sparling were recently selected as this year’s respective recipients of the Hamlin Graduate Bursary and the Rudelle Hall Memorial Scholarship. Ali and Anika have been similarly recognized for their exceptional commitment to the pursuit of higher learning, and impassioned approach to their Master’s research.
Ali’s research at EURUS is focused on peace building and economic reconstruction in Central Asia. Following graduation, he is keenly interested in working in the Canadian Foreign Service, with an eye to specialized work on Central Asia. Ali has succeeded in his studies, despite facing very difficult personal circumstances. Fleeing the Soviet war, Ali’s family migrated first to Uzbekistan, and later to Canada when he was 16 years old. Given his later acquisition of English, Ali was often encouraged to pursue a more “practical” career; however for Ali studying global-politics was a lifelong dream which he pursued at the encouragement of his family. Ali worked tirelessly during his BA and even found time to volunteer, serving as President of the Afghan Student Association of Ottawa (among other positions). Ali also hopes to one day be in a position to facilitate greater educational opportunities in Afghanistan. Speaking of his parents who received no formal education, “being denied education sentences individuals to navigate the world in the dark”, for Ali, helping create access to education will be the best way to honour those who have supported his own academic journey.
Anika’s personal and professional commitment to understanding gender and diversity issues is exemplary. She first became academically interested in the intersection of gender studies and politics while in her undergrad here at Carleton. This interest returned after taking Social and political perspectives in Europe with Professor Daniel Preece. Her term paper on intersectionality and the European Union’s gender equality policies, inspired the topic of her Master’s major research paper tentatively titled; Europeanization in Germany: Gender Quotas on Publically Listed Management Boards. When asked why she chose to focus on this particular topic Anika said, “Germany has one of the largest economies in the 21st century, and yet women are still dramatically underrepresented in senior positions of authority. I wanted to study the social and structural factors that inform this disparity”. As a Canadian of German background, Anika has a lifelong connection and interest to German politics and culture, and is currently undertaking the challenging process of conducting primary research in a second language. After completing her MA, Anika would like to gain work experience in Gender/Diversity Mainstreaming within a Canadian decision making body such as the federal government, before going on to pursue Doctoral studies in gender and diversity.
The EURUS community is extremely proud of Ali and Anika. We wish them the very best as they finish their research!