Katharine Shelledy

Katharine Shelledy is a recipient of the Academic Year 2020-2021 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The award provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with financial support to develop fluency in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and expertise in the regions in which these languages are spoken. Click here to learn more.

I study disaster management and Covid-19 in the Pacific Islands as a master’s student with University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. This topic exists at the intersection of different cultures and disciplines (natural and social science, public health, etc.) and as such lends itself well to the Center for Global Studies’ mission for interdisciplinary training and language study. In the past, I have studied in Latin America and on all coasts of the United States (including the “Fresh Coast” of Wisconsin). Everywhere I study, I am continually fascinated by the intersection of human and natural spheres and the influence of national level policy over that interaction.

My hope is that the courses I take through FLAS will improve my understanding of Filipino language and culture, expand my disciplinary expertise, and position me to work where I can make the world more livable.