International and Community Development

From her first-year seminar to her senior capstone project, Aimee George's studies have fueled her passion for changing the world, one community at a time.

After coming to Gettysburg from her homeland of Singapore, she volunteered in New Orleans and Mexico through the College's Center for Public Service. She also volunteered while studying abroad in South Africa and in the Gettysburg community, helping develop the Campus Kitchen Project and co-founding the Peace Club.

Her capstone course, Women and the Political Economy of Development, included a week in Leon, Nicaragua, where students observed micro-credit programs and non-governmental organizations, lived with local families, and posted a blog. "In class you're going to read information in a book. it's going to be a theory," George said. "But when you actually get to visit a place, that takes on a whole new reality."

Her first-year seminar examined terrorism from philosophical and political point of views. "And from there I took classes in peace and justice studies, philosophy, and anthropology. Everything I took, it all tied together. Ideas that I had before, Gettysburg helped me put them in terms of theories and topics and titles, and has shown me how I'd like to live it out in my life after college. I hope to pursue a graduate program and get involved in international development work at the grassroots level."

Throughout her studies, George has collaborated closely with her faculty mentor, political science Prof. Caroline Hartzell. Their current work examines how International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies affect women’s status and political violence in developing nations.

George will graduate in May with majors in political science and globalization studies and minors in philosophy and peace and justice studies.