College Up Close: Lizabeth Bamgboye, global studies
Junior Lizabeth Bamgboye wanted a major that helped her engage with the people, cultures and ideas behind the social movements that inspired her. The curriculum in global studies offered a space to do just that.
“As a global studies major, I pull from subjects like history, political science and anthropology to not only investigate persistent inequities but also think more critically about what global community looks like,” she said.
In the class “Dealing with Difference,” Bamgboye dove into this investigation by “peeling back mechanisms of inequity.” Taught by Michal Osterweil, teaching professor of global studies, the course pays particular attention to criminal justice, race and social movements.
“It’s easy to be caught up in the pessimism that arises when examining structures of inequity and oppression,” said Bamgboye. The course helped her “find new ways to combat against it by emphasizing tangible action.”
Bamgboye, who has a second major in political science, has chosen classes focused on political behavior, globalization and migration to cultivate cross-disciplinary critical thinking and research skills.
To further her understanding of her role in the global community, she studied abroad in Taiwan last fall as a Phillips Ambassador. There, she sharpened her existing Mandarin language skills and interned at a women’s nonprofit, Garden of Hope.
“I was only there for three months, but I learned lessons of a lifetime and truly stepped out of my comfort zone,” she said, adding that she returned to Carolina with lifelong friends from the program.
As she prepares to start her senior year, Bamgboye names rushing Franklin the day before her 20th birthday as an all-time favorite Carolina memory. She is also thrilled to become the president of the Ebony Readers Onyx Theater, a community that brings her “liberatory joy.”
By Jess Abel ’19
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