I never imagined the opportunities and experiences I would gain by choosing to complete a Bachelor of Global and International Studies with a specialization in Global Development. During my four years in BGInS, I have had the opportunity to complete a three month internship in Dakar, Senegal, worked and volunteered with the International Student Services Office for two years, and presented a report on gender equality in the Middle East to Global Affairs Canada with my honours seminar. However, it is my most recent accomplishment that I am most proud of; in December 2019 I began working as a research assistant for Dr. Logan Cochrane examining the issue of land grabbing in Ethiopia, and together we co-authored “The Rush for Land and Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia: What We Know and What We Are Missing”. This invaluable accomplishment has been a memorable way to complete my time in BGInS, allowing me to gain insight into the publication process of peer-reviewed articles.
I am humbled to have had so many incredible experiences at Carleton University, and grateful to all my peers and BGInS faculty members who have inspired and encouraged me over these past four years. Although the current global circumstances mark a bittersweet ending for us graduates of 2020, it is with great pride that we should enter the world outside of our undergraduate degrees knowing that we are equipped with a truly global foundation.
Danielle Legault
Global Development Specialization
BGInS Graduate 2020