MPP student Brandon Baumbach has been awarded the Philip S. Smaby Peace Fellowship for study at the University of Oslo International Summer School in 2011.
Brandon's statement of his summer plans include internship in Norway:
"I will attend the University of Oslo's 2011 International Summer School for six weeks studying human rights. In addition to this, I will be working as an intern with a local organization around the issue of immigration, specifically around the Somali Diaspora in both Minnesota and Scandinavia. I will be working with a partner of The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights - U.S. Foundation around the issue area of a program entitled, "Dialogue to in Bridging the Somali Diaspora- Minnesota and Scandinavia". This is part of a larger effort headed by many in both regions to explain why integration works well in some areas and not others. I believe leadership is a key issue in what has been working, and what will continue to work in the future, within the Diasporas. Since many of these immigrants are refugees, ideally, this research will help to not only highlight what is working to better the lives of the refugees in the new country, but also to develop leadership and capacity within the Diaspora that could return to aid in the current failed-state of Somalia."
Philip C. Smaby was proud of both his Norwegian immigrant heritage and his life-long commitment to building global business relationships that encouraged economic stability and supported a more peaceful world. A 1942 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Smaby wished to reflect these deeply held values in a gift to his alma mater to endow a graduate fellowship the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs to inspire and engage students to pursue academic studies at the world-renowned University of Oslo International Summer School in the fields of world peace, social justice, conflict resolution and human rights. A biography of Mr. Smaby can be found at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/startribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=119311647.
