Whoever said you couldn't study abroad and graduate on time never met recent LAS graduate Goylette (Julie) Chami. Between studying in Hungary, interning at a law firm in Syria, and leading a team of undergraduates to study in Europe, Chami made the most of her undergraduate experience both on and off—way off—campus. Now she's continuing her success overseas.
Many students may remember her as the founder of Entrepreneurs Without Borders (EWB), a student organization devoted to traveling internationally to educate global communities about entrepreneurship and to help the needy. As part of her initiative with EWB, Chami led other undergraduates to Croatia to study micro-financing initiatives during winter break. It is likely her initial venture will become a regular partnership between Illinois and Croatian students.
During the three years she was on campus, Chami engaged with diverse faculty in research that spanned business, economics and political science, including a current project on water-borne pathogens and well establishment in Central-East Africa. She also excelled in the classroom, being named a James Scholar and Bronze Tablet Recipient, and graduating with degrees in both economics and political science.
Her hard work paid off. Chami was selected out of 1,000 nominations from around the country to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship to fund her graduate studies at the University of Cambridge-England this fall. The scholarship will cover her tuition, room, board, fees, and books for six years.
Chami plans to obtain her master of philosophy of development degree and doctorate in economics from Cambridge. Afterward, she would like to work as a policy consultant for a leading development agent, and later as an academic to improve human capital in developing areas. Congratulations to Julie Chami, in bringing the spirit of the hardworking Illini to campus and beyond.
