Savannah Donegan

2020 Newman Family Scholarship Recipient

Savannah Donegan is a triple major in International Studies, Economics, and History with a certificate in Global Health. She is involved in a number of campus advocacy and policy organizations including the Sifting & Winnowing Policy Journal, the Alexander Hamilton Society, the Women in Economics executive board, and as a member of The Women’s Network finance committee. She also enjoys putting her love of the social sciences to work as a Data Analyst Research Intern with the Wisconsin Center for Academic Research and as a Learning Community Programming Assistant with Chadbourne Residential College.

Savannah’s first experience with the International Studies Major was in International Studies 101 with Professor Stephen Young. After realizing how much she enjoyed the course, she enrolled in Professor Young’s Economic Geography course, where she worked with him and a small group of students to draft a research report on the concept of universal basic income. This remains her favorite class to date, as it allowed her to combine her interests in economics and international studies to create a tangible piece of original research. Savannah has also had the opportunity to take several Spanish courses, which have increased her depth and interest in international and regional studies.

In the future, Savannah hopes to participate in the Fall 2020 Wisconsin in Washington internship program, where she will participate in a full-time policy internship while taking intensive International Studies coursework. After completing her undergraduate program, she plans to pursue a Master of International Public Affairs and then work in policy research, international business, or government affairs before pursuing a Ph.D. and professorship in the social sciences. She cannot imagine a life or career without the joy of learning new things, advocating for fellow human beings, and being around exciting people and ideas. She tries to live by her favorite quote: “I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you’ve never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start over again.”

She would like to share her special appreciation for professors, TAs, and advisors – Stephen Young, Lee Palmer Wandel, Rasmus Lentz, Simeon Alder, David Danaher, Gregory Pac, Ben Kasten, Alicia Johanning, Molly Donnellan, and Steven Wong – for their kindness, extra office hours, and encouragement over her college career. She would also like to thank the Newman Family for this generous award.