Sam Dunaway | News Editor

Western psychology major Haley Morris is using her passion for global health to change the world. In late January, Morris will join a team of students and faculty from various universities on a month-long fellowship in Rwanda to conduct research on reproductive health.

In February of 2017, Morris was notified of the opportunity by her advisor, Western sociology professor Dr. Callero. The highly competitive fellowship, funded by the National Science Foundation, covers all domestic and international living and travel expenses. Morris decided to apply in May of 2017 and was notified that she was one of only nine applicants that received the award.

The program begins at Western Washington University in early January, where the fellowship recipients take classes and learn about qualitative research. At the end of January, Morris and her team leave for the country of Rwanda, where they will conduct research for a full month.

The purpose of the research is to gain a better understanding of the contraceptive programs that the country offers. Morris states that the percentage of individuals using contraception have tripled over the course of ten years, and the implementation of contraceptive use programs in Rwanda is much more successful than neighboring countries. The team hopes to obtain data that can give insight into Rwanda’s success and help other Sub-Saharan countries do the same.

In addition to the benefits this research provides for several African countries, it will also help Morris develop important data collection skills and international research experience. She noted that the opportunity is going to be important for her future endeavors. “Knowing how many doors it’s going to open for me is really, really exciting,” she commented. “After WOU, I hope to get my Masters in global health. Having this experience on my resumé is going to be incredibly helpful when applying.”

Callero explained that education abroad is important in gaining a new perspective on the world. “Most students who experience international education through study abroad report being transformed by the opportunity,” he commented. “When our personal beliefs and parochial assumptions are confronted with an alternative cultural worldview, change happens.”

“It’s really exciting knowing that I get to travel and see and experience things that many people go their whole life without seeing or experiencing,” Morris explained. “This experience is going to blow my mind, and I can’t wait for it to begin.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu