Elizabeth Walsh '14 was one of 40 U.S. recipients recently awarded the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship, providing a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Cambridge to complete a Master of Philosophy in social anthropology. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the United Kingdom, and Walsh will begin her studies this October.
Walsh, who plans to pursue a career in ethnographic museums and eventually pursue a Ph.D., is thrilled to have received the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship.
"I am extremely excited, and feel honored to be invited to study alongside such thoughtful, committed and hard-working individuals. While pursuing my degree, I plan to explore the impact of digital technologies on museum/source community relationships while engaging in hands-on research at Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology," Walsh said. Her MPhil thesis in Social Anthropology has now been confirmed.
Since her graduation in May of 2014, Walsh, who graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and was a GS Honor Society member, has held positions at the American Museum of Natural History, a position she held throughout her tenure at GS, and at the Paley Center for Media.
While at GS, Walsh was an anthropology major and held a teaching position in the American Museum of Natural History education department and an internship in the WNET Children's and Educational Media department. Additionally, she was an active GS Student Life volunteer, served as a Multicultural Affairs advisory board member and was a Community Impact volunteer.
Prior to matriculating at Columbia, Walsh attended Passaic Community College where she first enrolled part time and went on to study full time. Her academic success was recognized through her induction to Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for exceptional community-college students, and her eventual election to PTK secretary.
In the fall of 2010, Walsh applied and was admitted to GS, and attended part time throughout her tenure as a student. Walsh grew up about an hour from New York City in West Milford, N.J., on a small horse farm where she balanced farm chores and a dedication to competitive horseback riding with her studies at Columbia and work at the American Museum of Natural History.
For more information on the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, visit the website.