ALUMNUS, STUDENT EARN MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP

Joel Arnold, a recent Michigan State University graduate with degrees in social relations and policy from James Madison College and urban and regional planning from the College of Social Science; and Margaret Born, an Honors College senior majoring in comparative cultures and politics in James Madison College and Arabic in the College of Arts and Letters, are two of 12 students in the country to earn the Mitchell Scholarship, which is a competitive graduate school scholarship.

Arnold and Born are two of the three Mitchell Scholars from MSU. The last Mitchell Scholar from MSU was selected in 2001.

The U.S.-Ireland Alliance established the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program, which allows up to 12 future American leaders to pursue a year of graduate study in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Arnold grew up in Flint and part of his decision for his studies was because of the economic collapse of his hometown. Through his roles as blight management analyst and master planning intern for the city of Flint, he has come to understand and is committed to helping solve the problems of not only Flint, but also other areas that have fallen on hard times.

“I am honored to have been awarded the prestigious George Mitchell Scholarship,” Arnold said. “I plan to use the Mitchell to study how communities change and adapt to challenging economic circumstances, and Ireland provides a uniquely enriching environment to study in. The opportunities that were presented to me as a student at Michigan State helped to sharpen my desire to lead, and I look forward to this opportunity and the potential it offers.”

Born is the founder and president of Project Nur, a student organization devoted to combating Islamophobia through education and cross-cultural interaction. She has also served as caucus chair and leader for inclusion on the James Madison College Student Senate.

“I consider myself impossibly fortunate for this opportunity,” Born said. “I believe that understanding conflict requires a holistic approach, and at Dublin City University I will be able to study the intersection of development, environment and conflict. I am so grateful to everyone who made this dream a reality.”