December 7, 2020

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,

I want to bring your attention to some wonderful news. Today, the British Consulate announced the winners of the 2021 Marshall Scholarships, which awards full scholarships to American students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in the U.K. Among the 46 students selected this year from colleges and universities across the United States is Ann Monk ’21—the first person in Connecticut College history to be chosen for this honor. Ann will be pursuing research in diaspora studies and international development at the School of Oriental and African Studies and at University College, London.

A native of Washington, Ann is a double major in International Relations and Global Islamic Studies; a Newman Civic Fellow; a scholar in our Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts with a focus on Arabic language; and a fellow in our Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement. Throughout her time at Conn, she has devoted herself to addressing the world refugee crisis. She serves on the leadership team and coordinates volunteers across the U.S. for Paper Airplanes, an NGO based in Jordan that expands educational opportunities to young refugees. In 2018, she founded her own organization, the Student Refugee Alliance, with a mission to connect campus resources to refugee needs in the region.

According to the Consulate, recipients of the Marshall are judged to be “intellectually distinguished young people who will one day become leaders, opinion formers or decision-makers and who will help to reinforce the long-lasting ties between our two countries.” Ann is already living up to that expectation.

I want to thank the many faculty and staff mentors who helped Ann reach her highest potential, and I want to congratulate Ann herself for achieving this honor. We wish her well in her life beyond Connecticut College. You may read more about the Marshall Fellowship in this news story.

Yours,
 
Katherine Bergeron
President