CONTACT: Elaine Tooley, Communication Specialist 585.567.9211
Heading Out Into the World
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – He is 22 years old and
has a better understanding of trade dependence and international
security than most people decades older than he. His summers
have been spent working at the Pentagon, and his semesters sent
him to Rwanda, Uganda and Costa Rica. Peter Savage (Churchville,
N.Y.) graduated in May, but not before he challenged himself and
discovered that his calling was more than law and politics – it
is about impacting change globally.
The International Relations and Political Science major presented research at the Institute for African Development Spring Symposium held at Cornell University in April. The focus of the conference was “Problems, Promises, and Paradoxes of Aid: Africa’s Experience.” Savage presented his work that he developed for his senior seminar project entitled “The Interaction Between Political Systems and Development Aid in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Savage used Nigeria as a case study and investigated “How the United States, European Union and the People’s Republic of China utilize development aid in sub-Saharan Africa to promote their foreign policy goals and to what end.” His conclusion, after comparing guiding governmental ideologies, international policies and sector implementations, was that “Trade dependence coupled with the need for security promotes alignment towards a development model that quickly repays the investment of subordination to the donor nation.”
This work was presented to graduate and doctoral students from various universities, including scholars from the University of Namibia (Africa), Duke University, Tufts University, Syracuse University, London School of Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oklahoma State University and Cornell University. Savage’s fellow presenters included a Truman Scholar and a visiting doctoral student from the University of Turin (Italy) currently studying with the Department of Economics at Cornell University.
Dr. Ndunge Kiiti ’88, a member of the intercultural studies faculty, accompanied Savage to the conference at Cornell. “I was very impressed with Peter’s ability to research, integrate and articulate concepts from multiple disciplines in this process. His research synthesized and engaged with ideas from political science, international development and international relations. At Cornell, many of the participants were very impressed with his level of research integration and his ability to articulate models which helped in understanding the issues that define foreign aid to Africa.”
Savage found his passion for international development work through experiences he had while attending Houghton College. In 2008, he attended a conference at Cornell University that dealt with failed states. It was one of the first places he had encountered a combined model of foreign policy and development. Savage then spent a month in Costa Rica where he learned about ecotourism and other development projects.
It was his time in Africa during the spring of his junior year that not only gave him exposure to issues but kindled a passion for international relief and development. He traveled to Africa’s post-conflict countries of Uganda and Rwanda through the Go-ED program sponsored by Food for the Hungry. His education required him to spend five weeks in class and four weeks involved in practical experience in both countries. “I was a social worker in internally displaced persons camps in Northern Uganda, 15 kilometers from Sudan. I followed-up on child abuse cases with the local police,” Savage explained. In Rwanda, Peter worked in agricultural development with classmate Wesley Dean ’10 (Fillmore, N.Y.). “We did research with the Minister of Agriculture,” Savage commented. Part of solving agricultural issues was determining that seed replication fields were necessary for the region – opposed to growing maize. Their work also involved analyzing trade imports and exports with the Rwanda Ministry of Commerce.
When Savage returned to the United States, he soon found himself with yet another opportunity to glean information and capture his calling in life. He spent a few of his college summers working with the United States Air Force, Office of Public Affairs. He first worked as an integrated marketing intern and later worked as a liaison with the documentary film producers. Savage was then offered a student co-op position with the National-Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Office of International Affairs and Policy, and spent the fall semester of his senior year there. Following graduation, Savage will return to work with the agency.
“Peter is one of our best and brightest students, hardworking, tenacious and affable,” reported Dr. B. David Benedict, professor of political science and international relations at Houghton College. “He has fashioned for himself great experience, not only in the classroom, but also in internship and work experiences. Peter is trained in political science and international relations theory and practice. He has already accomplished more than most students, and we expect him to impact the world in a substantial way.”
The hands-on experience that Savage acquired has solidified what he wants to accomplish with his life and talents. Combining his political interest with his development experience, Savage may pursue law school or get an advanced degree in public policy. “Eventually, I want to directly affect United States security policy as it interfaces with development policy,” he explained.
The college experience is a time for students to explore what they want to be, discover more about themselves, and make plans for the next step in life. Sometimes the journey is predictable. Other times, the journey is beyond the imagination. For Peter Savage, his journey has been nothing short of incredible.
