Elizabeth Mugo ’19 Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship

By Erica Turman
April 10, 2018

Elizabeth Mugo ’19 will attend the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon. Mugo is a sociology and anthropology double major, with a minor in Africana studies and poverty and human capability studies.

The  PPIA fellowship program helps students achieve a master’s or joint degree, typically in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related field.

Mugo’s PPIA Fellowship will include full tuition to Carnegie Mellon, as well as a stipend and eligibility to receive assistance with travel expenses.

“I applied to PPIA for the opportunity to bring my experiences full circle,” said Mugo. “After discussing everything from heteronormativity to issues of food insecurity in my classes at W&L, I want to move the conversation to what can be done and what policies can be advocated for or changed.”

In addition to her studies, Mugo is also vice president of the Executive Committee and newly elected president for the 2018-19 academic year, a Bonner Program senior intern, an Owings Fellow and a student representative on the Commission on Institutional History and Community Committee.

After graduation, Mugo hopes to work on human rights issues, from refugee resettlement to the criminal justice system to Native American people.

Mugo said,” I hope that my experience at PPIA will allow me to understand further intricacies of policy and give me the knowledge and experience for graduate school.”