Research and Writing

Olson Scholars Program

As part of the 2016-2017 Olson Scholars cohort, I researched meanings constructed about German identity in the discourses of German political parties on refugees and asylum-seekers. My mentor was Dr. Michelle Egan, who helped me with the structure of my methodology. My research journey was documented on another Edspace website: https://edspace.american.edu/ov7668a/

I presented my research in spring of 2017 at the poster fair and on a panel at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Click this link to view my poster: Valone306Poster

or click the link below to read my final 306 paper, which will be published in the next volume of AU’s undergraduate research journal Clocks & Clouds:

SECURITY OR HUMANITY – GERMAN IDENTITY AND THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

The World Mind

Publications:

“Finding Hell in Libya: The Failure of the EU’s Human Rights Regime” (Volume III No. 3 Spring 2018)

An analysis of the existing EU human rights law and the deficiencies in addressing external human rights obligations, particularly in the case of the EU’s involvement in preventing migrants in Libya from entering the EU.

Finding Hell in Libya; The Failure of the EU’s Human Rights Regime

“Life Without the Flashing Lights: The Reality of Living in East Germany” (Volume II No. 1 Fall 2016)

An article detailing the reality of growing up and living in the German Democratic Republic from the perspectives of East Germans.

Life Without the Flashing Lights: the Reality of Living in East Germany

Community-Based Research Scholars

In Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016, I was involved in the Community-Based Research Scholar (CBRS) Program at American University. It is a program that combines community service with research to provide a more contextual and effective research process. In the fall, I began volunteering at the Latino Student Fund (LSF). In the Spring, my cohort conducted qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis on a charter school in Colombia Heights.

WICKED Problem Challenge Case Competition

In March of 2017, I prepared and presented a project proposal to improve immigrant services in Montgomery county to a panel of five judges. The proposal, which I worked on with three other Community-Based Research scholars, was designed as an add-on to the services that were already in existence to provide an in-depth education about American society, available resources, and legal procedures. Our proposal received first place at the competition.

Check the links under courses for writing samples in German