Annie Lewis

Annie has explored storytelling and narrative formation through her various coursework and through her employment at CLUE and UAA Advising. As an aspiring educator, she hopes to use her travels to explore diverse expressions of vulnerability, observe universal and culture-specific stigmas around displaying weakness, and gain greater multicultural awareness. Upon returning to the United States, her goal is to create new types of culturally-sensitive academic support programs that better assist underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized groups. To explore how higher education can be more equitable and intentional about supporting social justice, Annie will travel to China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Morocco.

Alumni Reflections

How did the Bonderman impact your life?

“The Bonderman helped me to re-envision not only what I believed could be possible for the world, but what could be possible for myself. While adversity often exists between people of different backgrounds and identities, there are also so many forms of shared humanity and goodness; I did not go anywhere on the Bonderman where I did not meet at least a handful of kind strangers. On my travels, I also continuously pushed past what I believed I was capable of, mentally and physically, and learned that resilience and optimism are never overrated.”

What are you doing now?

“I’m working a Program Coordinator for the International Student Experience at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The theme of my Bonderman was to explore how the United States education system can more equitably support learning and development through culturally-responsive and student-centered practices, so I think about my travels and the fellowship almost every day!”

Photo of Annie Lewis on her Bonderman.