BHC Spotlight: Anitra Howard '21

Major/Minor: Political Science with a minor in History
Hometown: Riverdale, MD

Anitra Howard '22

Why you chose BHC (beyond the scholarship benefit)
I really enjoyed the community feel of VWU. When I had my initial interview with Dr. Caughell, she made me feel right at home. I was also drawn to the study away aspect.

What benefits have you gained from the BHC
Through the BHC, not only have I been able to travel abroad for the first time, I’ve also had the opportunity to complete my first internship, as well as complete undergraduate research that I have been able to present at conferences.

Highlight a specific research, internship, or study abroad experience(s).
This summer, I was lucky enough to participate in an externship with the Osgood Center for International Studies located in Washington D.C. I was able to complete research on a topic of my choosing and also attended some highly enlightening lectures by political scientists at the forefront of their field. You can see my final paper on the Osgood Center for International Studies website.

How did the BHC curriculum or program prepare you for this experience?
In most of our Honors courses, we are taught how to conduct multiple types of  research, and I used a lot of the methods taught in these courses to complete my paper for the Osgood Center. 

What do/did you hope to achieve/gain from this experience?
I was hoping to get more work experience and to meet more people in my field. Not only was I able to achieve this, I was also able to learn more about different topics within International Studies that I hadn’t yet considered.

List of things involved with on campus (sports teams, clubs, academic competitions/teams, positions held and description of duties)

  • Debate Club Exec Board
  • Ethics Bowl
  • Spectrum Exec Board
  • Wesleyan Ambassadors Coordinator
  • Voices of Praise Exec Board
  • BHC Programs Council
  • BHC Advisory Board
  • Residential Assistant

List any awards, recognitions, and/or conference presentations

  • VCHC Spring 2019
  • Scheduled to present at the VCHC Spring 2020
  • Scheduled to Present at the Lemon Project Symposium 2020
  • Champion Ethics Bowl Team

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me using the info below:

Anitra Howard
adhoward@vwu.edu