Hello everyone! My name is Sophia Nguyen. I’m a junior double-major in International Affairs and Art History with minors in Human Rights, Anthropology, European Studies, Swahili, and Law, Jurisprudence & the State.
A wide variety of interests is not an obstacle at SPIA. Why? Because there’s never a shortage of programs, faculty, or coursework at your disposal. My personal interests lie in the intersection between politics and museum studies, and I had the opportunity to explore them with the Center for the Study of Global Issues (GLOBIS).
GLOBIS is a one-of-a-kind hub for human rights, security, and political science research. That’s why, in my 2025 summer semester, I signed on for one of their faculty-led trips to Morocco.
Besides the offered course in Middle Eastern Politics, the main appeal of the Morocco program was its faculty-mentored research course, INTL4960R. In this course, you are allowed to design and conduct your own field research project around a subject of your choice. I opted, naturally, to study Morocco’s museum network, the Fondation Nationale des Musées. Others in my cohort analyzed conflicts in the Western Sahara, Amazigh national identity, and more under Dr. Eli Sperling, who supervised our work every step of the way.
In the meantime, my cohort and I journeyed across Rabat, Fez, Merzouga, Essaouira, Marrakech, and Casablanca with two amazing tour leaders. Alongside scheduled lectures, think-tanks, and visits with politicians, I made sure to visit at least one museum per city. Highlights included the Museum of Moroccan Elegance—a doll museum showcasing the diversity of Moroccan fashion—and Morocco’s famous Mohammed VI Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, where my interest in contemporary art was fully satisfied.
However, I was also treated to a variety of experiences outside of research that, despite the short 3-week period, immersed my cohort and I in our travels. We tasted Moroccan teas and participated in mosaic workshops, camel riding, and tours of medinas, tanneries, and souks. We were also treated to delicious food, from camel tajine and pastilla to perhaps the greatest steakhouse of all time in Fez.
Regardless of where we were, the Moroccan people were very conversational. The greatest lessons from the trip came from their open-mindedness, kindness, and thorough effort to see that we were welcome.
I can safely say there was no better location to conduct research than Morocco. Even if GLOBIS is a first-time research experience, or even if there’s anxiety about travel, don’t fret! I left the program with a group of amazing friends, a fully-finished research project, and new inspiration for where my °®Å¾Íøcareer could head. So, I urge any students to apply regardless of your major, research experience, or knowledge of Morocco. This is an opportunity to pave a unique path. Don’t miss out!
