The Truman Scholarship Foundation seeks students who are true “change agents,” with the passion, intellect, and leadership potential to improve the ways that public entities serve the public good.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarships, a living memorial to our 33rd president, are highly competitive, merit-based awards which fund graduate schooling in preparation for a career in public service. The Truman Scholarship Foundation seeks students who are true “change agents,” with the passion, intellect, and leadership potential to improve the ways that public entities—be they government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public and private educational institutions, or advocacy organizations—serve the public good. This year, Northeastern University had the pleasure of nominating four outstanding students for this award, all of whom are CSSH students.
Kathleen Chandley CSSH ’16
An international affairs and political science major hailing from Rhode Island, Kathleen Chandley has accumulated a wealth of leadership and advocacy experience in her time at Northeastern. As a sophomore, Kate was elected Vice President for Student Involvement by Northeastern’s Student Government Association. In this role, she advocated for the concerns of hundreds of student groups and played a key role in the renovation of a major student activity resource space. In recognition of her extraordinary accomplishments as a student leader, Northeastern University bestowed upon Kate the Karen T. Rigg Shining Torch Scholarship, which recognizes an outstanding contribution to student life. On co-op, Kate has worked as a Constituent Advocate for the city of Boston, serving as a public face of municipal government, and she has assisted in the efforts of the advocacy group Code Pink to support nuclear negotiations with Iran. Indeed, Kate’s passion is for the issue of international disarmament, and she is currently a full-time communications and research staffer at the British American Security Information Council, a binational think tank that promotes nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Wendy Chu CSSH ’16
A product of New York City’s Stuyvesant High School, a University Scholar, and a political science major, Wendy Chu aspires to make government more efficient, nimble, and responsive to the needs of its citizens. At Northeastern University, Wendy has turned her talents to applied research, joining a team that analyzed economic, social, census, and incarceration data to map the operations and impacts of Boston’s criminal justice system. She has also received the Karen T. Rigg Shining Torch Scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments as a student leader. On co-op at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Wendy worked to ensure that government assistance and programs actually reach those they are intended to help. She hopes to study law and public policy and work within the federal regulatory structure to facilitate easier and more beneficial interactions between citizens and their government.
Caroline Coughlin CSSH ’16
Caroline Coughlin majors in International Affairs and Economics, with minors in Law and Public Policy, Political Science, and History. A member of the Honors Program, Caroline’s academic record extends to the realm of scholarly research, as well, where she has assisted Professor Kirsten Rodine-Hardy with research on multilevel governance structures, particularly the EU, and how these structures impact global business regulation. Caroline then went on to design and complete an independent research project on Pirate Parties (which generally oppose copyright and intellectual property restrictions) and open source software. A native of Tennessee, Caroline has pursued her interest in advocacy and governmental administration across the globe, completing co-ops at Oxfam America and the Scottish Parliament. Caroline was in Scotland during the run-up to its referendum on independence, a particularly electrifying time to see the Parliament in action. Her time at Oxfam America, meanwhile, solidified Caroline’s passion for issues of food scarcity and security, which she hopes to address in a career as a policymaker.
Rose Leopold CSSH ’16
Political science major and University Scholar Rose Leopold has immersed herself in electoral politics and government service with great zeal during her time at Northeastern. A passionate advocate for the inclusion of women in the political process, Rose volunteered for the campaigns of Michelle Wu (the first Asian-American woman elected to the Boston City Council) and Senator Elizabeth Warren, and she completed an internship at the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. Rose went on to complete a co-op in Senator Warren’s Washington office, and another internship with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who was also a candidate for governor at the time. Currently, Rose is on co-op at the US Embassy in Quito, Ecuador. She plans to attend law school and aspires to run for elected office herself.
