at Purdue and abroad, have a passion for serving and empowering others through the marriage of research and action. We b
At Purdue Undergraduate Research Assistants Join the PPP Team This fall the Purdue Peace Project (PPP) was joined by five undergraduate research assistants who contribute in various ways to the work we do. Meet these students and learn what being part of the PPP team means to them.
Jesse Bohlin “Being a part of PPP provides me with the avenue to explore how institutions can assist in the pursuit of sustainable, community-driven development. Through my time with PPP, I have been able to learn how to center community voices in the pursuit for peace. Overall, PPP has provided me the ability to grow as a professional in the field of development and peace studies.” Jesse Bohlin is an undergraduate student in Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts, where they are pursuing a major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with minors in Spanish and LGBT Studies, as well as the College of Agriculture, where they intend to earn a degree in International Agronomy. After graduation, Jesse hopes to enlist in the Peace Corps for two years before pursuing graduate school with a focus on food (in)security among marginalized populations. Jesse is a member of the Peace Corp Prep program at Purdue. Currently, Jesse is the president of Internationally Connected in Agriculture’s Future (ICA Future), an organization that aims to connect international and domestic students in the fields of food security, agriculture, and development. They are also the USA National Director of Communication for the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS).
Courtney Bonness “It has been an honor to work as an undergraduate research assistant with the Purdue Peace Project. The individuals on this team, both here at Purdue and abroad, have a passion for serving and empowering others through the marriage of research and action. We believe that each individual has the capacity to pursue peace and change his or her community for the better. It has been inspiring to see this all practiced first hand and contribute to this life-changing work, even in the smallest capacities. This team empowers and motivates me. This
work is meaningful. These people are world-shakers. I am simply humbled to be a part of this community.” Courtney Bonness is an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts, majoring in both English and Professional Writing, as well as minoring in Philosophy. Courtney is still exploring her options following graduation; however, she is interested in a career concerning internal journalism for a non-profit organization, particularly one with a focus on international development and community engagement. Additionally, Courtney is the Vice President of Membership Development for the Beta Xi chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta as well as a community group leader for Purdue Christian Campus House, roles that emphasize empathy and awareness in the promotion of self-sustaining community.
Cody Denton “Being part of the Purdue Peace Project means being a symbol of hope and peace. Our efforts as a team affect many people globally, and being able to give people hope and peace about their city, country or nation is amazing. I am honored to be able to be part of a team whose actions create opportunities for people to live in peace.”
Cody Denton is an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts, majoring in Mass Communications and minoring in Spanish and Italian. After graduation, Cody would like to become a graduate student and study Organizational Communication. He is interested in a career dealing with professional writing, public relations and marketing. Cody also is the Vice President of Programming for his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, the manager of Purdue’s Track and Field team, and is involved with multiple Christian organizations on campus.
Julia Donnelly “To me, being a part of the Purdue Peace Project is not just about conducting beneficial academic research; it is about helping real people establish real peace in their communities. If our team is able to bring just a few people one step closer to stability and harmony, we will have succeeded. The Purdue Peace Project means being a part of something that is much larger than ourselves and having the ability— the responsibility—to change the lives of others through discovery, communication, and passion.”
Julia Donnelly is an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts, as well as the Purdue Honors College, where she intends to receive bachelor’s degrees in both English and Corporate Communications with a minor in Classical Studies. Her research focuses on the perception of women and gender in relation to peacebuilding. After graduation, she intends to continue her research and commitments to giving a voice to the voiceless by pursuing a career in the publishing industry.
Allison Hemingway “The Purdue Peace Project has helped me find a passion for my career. As a film and video studies major, I have a slightly different path than most students who pursue communication professions. However, the one thing that drives me to do the work I do is storytelling. Personal stories have the power to move and inspire people, and our work explores these narratives in small communities that may not otherwise have a chance to be heard. The PPP works with individuals who do incredible work for peace, and I want to dedicate my life to sharing these kinds of stories with the world to promote positive change for our future.” Allison Hemingway is an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts pursuing a dual major in Film and Video studies and Mass Communication, as well as a minor in Theatre and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. On campus, she is involved in various student organizations such as Boiler Gold Rush, CLA Dean’s Ambassadors, Old Masters, Big Ten Network Student Union, Purdue Student Productions, and Greek Life, all of which have given her opportunities to serve both the local West Lafayette/Lafayette and Purdue communities. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in filmmaking, sharing stories of people like the inspirational peacebuilders that work through the Purdue Peace Project to impact the world every day. Learn more: For more information about the Purdue Peace Project team, visit https://cla.purdue.edu/ppp/about/team.html
