I presented my research on religion and restorative justice after the 1994 Rwandan genocide at the 2nd World Congress on Undergraduate Research in Oldenburg, Germany. Read my reflections on the experience and receiving the award for Politics here.
G.O.A.L.S.
The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.
Original Inquiry: Denman Research Forum
At the 2018 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, I presented the preliminary results for my study on Religiosity and Transitional Justice in Rwanda, called “The Devil in Rwanda.” I analyzed how the “Devil” was described in religious individuals’ narratives about the cause of the violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. I found that such narratives can shape the ways individuals attribute blame in post-conflict environments, with potential implications for perceptions of justice after mass violence.
I am currently authoring a paper on these findings and more with my adviser, Dr. Hollie Nyseth Brehm, from the Department of Sociology. Overall, my research looks to better understand how culturally-specific factors—like religion—can be integrated into the design of transitional justice mechanisms after genocide.
