Past Undergraduate Fellows

I’m a Senior Kinesiology student, originally from Gardnerville, Nevada. Recently I have become more invested in the idea of civil discourse because it’s so valuable to the communities we are a part of. It can be challenging to break barriers between parties, but it’s worth the effort to understand the  people behind the arguments. I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this initiative to promote conversations that will positively affect the communities around us.

I am a civil engineering senior with a minor in environmental studies. Raised in eastern and southern Idaho, I have devoted my academic career to working at the intersections of infrastructure, environment, and policy, with the goal of building sustainable, resilient solutions for rural, underserved communities. As the Student Body President, I am dedicated to creating a community where every student can thrive. This dedication involves a continuous effort to encourage open dialogue, enabling students to express their opinions and share their unique experiences.

I’m a returning Boise resident after a brief three years spent in Tacoma, Washington. I’m pursuing a degree in political science and am currently enrolled in my junior year. I applied for the undergraduate fellows program because I see division everywhere, our school, our state, our nation and even in my family. It’s important that we remind ourselves and others that despite the many different backgrounds and beliefs we have that we are all one nation that can stand together despite our differences. The institute is working to remind us of that and I am excited to play a part in healing our school and community.

I am from Boise and my majors are Economics and Social Sciences. I applied to be an undergraduate fellow of the Institute of Advancing American Values because I believe that progression and equality as a society, including in our university, can only be gained through constructive discourse of difference in beliefs or opinions.

I’m a senior in Boise State’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Management program. Although I currently live in the Southeast, I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho’s Magic Valley. I felt compelled to be involved in the Institute because of the level of polarization in our\u00a0 country. It seems that we have forgotten how to truly listen to one another and that at our core we share a set of distinctly-American values. I have hope that through multiple viewpoints coming together in purposeful and respectful dialog, we can develop meaningful solutions to the challenges we face as a nation.

I’m a Public Health major, Global Studies minor, and have an associates degree in Health Science. I’ve lived in the Treasure Valley for my entire life. I applied for the undergraduate fellows program at the Institute because I think that cooperation, kindness, and understanding are key parts of our interactions with each other in all aspects of life, and I want to help foster that in our community.

I’m a senior Integrated Media Student from Boise, Idaho. As an aspiring photojournalist, I am interested in asking hard questions, and how to navigate divisive topics. The IAAV gives me a platform to hear perspectives from a wide range of diverse people, and develop my own view on the world. Through the institute, I want to learn more about other people and how to communicate with them effectively.