College of St. Scholastica Scholar Presents at Posters on the Hill

Posted by on Sunday, April 25, 2010 7:52 - 0 Comments

The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Scholars Program at The College of St. Scholastica (CSS), Duluth, MN announces that Dylan Thomas Kesti presented his research in poster format on April 13at the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill.  This annual event in Washington, DC, allows 60 undergraduate researchers from across the nation to showcase their research specifically to members of the US Congress and their aides.  Dylan previously presented his research at the CSS Undergraduate Research Poster Session and his work has been accepted for publication in the McNair Scholarly Review.

Dylan, a senior graduating in May with a degree in Communication and Global Politics, completed his research while studying for a semester at American University coupled with a semester in Norway.  His topic is:  An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Two USAID Agricultural Projects: Rural Zambia (1995 and 2009).  His mentor at American University was Dr. Heather Heckel.   He participated in the Divided States of Europe Semester through the Higher Education Consortium of Urban Affairs (HECUA) and completed an Internship with ChangeMaker of Norwegian Church Aid while in Norway.

Dylan’s research was an offshoot of his continuing interest in conservation, water management and sustainable agriculture. Dylan served the St. Scholastica community as Chair of the CSS Environmental Sustainability Coalition: he organized a coalition to optimize energy efficiency in the Science Center addition; formulated an action plan to achieve a goal of campus-wide carbon neutrality; and pursued strategic goals of institutional accountability for energy efficiency.  He was a leader in Earth Action for environmental justice.

Further, as Coordinator for the Center for Just Living, Dylan organized and facilitated events for global justice education and activism; planned events to inform and engage students on social justice issues such as global climate change, food and water security, hunger and poverty,

homelessness, displacement, and international debt; and organized an effective fundraising dinner for solar stoves Duluth to Darfur.

A CSS Honors Student, Dylan was chosen as a Morris K. Udall Scholar 2009-2010 (following his Honorable Mention 2008-2009).  In August, 2010, he will enroll in a dual master’s program at American University and the United Nations-affiliated University for Peace- Costa Rica (UPEACE) to eventually obtain degrees in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.  Dylan’s life work includes plans to promote environmental solutions and social justice as inseparable issues that must be taken into account in US policy toward sustainable development abroad.





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