Julian Schneider ’17 laid the tracks for his post-Haverford plans last summer when he volunteered in refugee camps in Hungary thanks to funding from the Center for Global Peace and Citizenship (CPGC). The double major in philosophy and political science and concentrator in peace, justice, and human rights is returning in August to pursue a master’s degree in nationalism studies at Central European University (CEU) in Budapest.
On full scholarship from CEU, the recent graduate from Potomac, Md., will continue previous work he’s done in migration and refugee issues tied to his political science senior thesis and his CPGC-sponsored volunteer work with Menedek- Hungarian Association for Migrants. (The double major actually wrote two theses, which, he says, “challenged, pushed, but also nurtured me while at Haverford.”) The master’s program at CEU, which will encompass two semesters and a three-month-long thesis-writing period, will be a culmination of his experiences, as he unravels the nationalist components of the link between countries’ obligations and refugees’ rights in CEU classrooms renowned for their outstanding levels of diversity.
“Beyond the excitement of traveling abroad and having the opportunity to see a part of the world that I have had little exposure to, I am very excited about attending CEU,” Schneider says.
He hopes to follow his master’s degree with an eventual juris doctor from law school as he is interested in a possible career in international migration law or related to other international migration and refugee issues.
Meanwhile, in Budapest, the four-year Haverford cross country team member and Ambler Scholar-Athlete award-winner will be on the lookout for a running community with whom he hopes to race. Additionally, Schneider is looking forward to continuing his work helping the local migrant communities.
“I am excited to return to Hungary and continue volunteering wherever I can be of greatest assistance,” he says.
“Where They’re Headed” is a blog series reporting on the post-collegiate plans of recent Haverford graduates.
Photo: Julian Schneider ’17 learned how to shoot a bow and arrow in the Hungarian town of Balaton during a traditional hunting festival.