2024-Natalie Beckford

 

Natalie Beckford

Major: International Affairs

Second Major: Religion & Politics

Minor: French

GPA: 3.76

 PERSONAL STATEMENT

“Leave it better than you found it”. This was one of my favorite lessons that my mother taught me in my childhood. I know that my mother wasn’t the pioneer of this saying, but I’m so glad that she instilled it in me. She taught me to be an active participant in society and not rely on someone else to do something or fix it for me. I have carried that idea of the spaces, environments, communities, and the world around me as something that I can help improve. Coming to Lafayette, I was completely overwhelmed by the opportunities that were available to me. In those first couple of semesters, I joined so many clubs (Model UN, NIA, ABC, IA Club, Le Cercle Français), tried out for club volleyball, and went to every student life and sports event I could. I was absolutely in my element, and the Lafayette community seemed to welcome me with open arms.

Although I was still getting my footing, some of my more experienced peers were aware of my passion for social justice. I joined the initiatives that started Dear Lafayette and Lafayette Mutual Aid because I knew we could make a difference. This was my introduction to how I could make positive change both within and beyond the Lafayette community. I decided to invest more time in NIA and ABC specifically because I saw these wonderful affinity organizations needing repair. These organizations needed to be rebuilt because I witnessed and experienced the impact that they had. Through my dedication to having an impact on this community, I’ve embodied what I think the Lafayette Ideal is. Someone who truly invests in the Lafayette community and experience, and is committed to enact meaningful change.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITY/AWARD

Posse DC Full Tuition Scholarship- 4 years

The Posse Foundation Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship awarded to student leaders of diverse backgrounds. The Posse model seeks to develop these individuals to be changemakers within their communities and beyond.

Payne Fellowship- .5 year

The Payne Fellowship promotes diversity in the Foreign Service, welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups demonstrating strong academics and a commitment to positive global change. The Payne Fellowship provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities. Completing the Payne program leads to a USAID Foreign Service appointment with a required five-year service commitment.

i-World Badge (Gold, Silver, Ruby)- 1 year

i-World badge holders are (1) informed, open-minded, and responsible individuals who are attentive to cultural differences, (2) seek to understand, empathize, and engage with diverse communities, and (3) can identify and analyze critically a variety of global issues.

Dean’s List- 3.5 year

Dean’s List is awarded to students who achieve at least a 3.60 with a full course load. I have received Dean’s List 6 out of 7 semesters here at Lafayette.

Sigma Iota Rho- 1.5 years

Sigma Iota Rho is a national honors society founded in 1984 to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs. Lafayette College’s Beta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho was established in 2005 and consists of the best and brightest students in the International Affairs (IA) and International Studies (INS) programs.

Pi Sigma Alpha Invitation (2024)- .5 years

I received the invitation to join Pi Sigma Alpha but have not been inducted into the society yet. Established in 1920, Pi Sigma Alpha recognizes outstanding students in political science and encourages the further study of politics. The nearly 850 chapters throughout the country have inducted more than 300,000 members. The criteria for Pi Sigma Alpha according to the government and law website includes: “completion of at least six Government and Law courses (including three courses at or above the 200 level); attainment of at least a 3.45 cumulative average in courses within the department of Government and Law; and, scholarship sufficient to place the student in the top one-third of his/her College class”.

Public Policy & International Affairs Junior Fellow- 1 year

I was selected to participate as a fellow for the h 2023 Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program at Princeton University hosted by the School of International Affairs. The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (PPIA JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous academic graduate-level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers.

Study abroad – Geneva, Switzerland – SIT International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy-.5 years

While I was studying abroad I was able to fully immerse myself in Geneva, and visit many major international organizations like the ICRC, WHO, and the IOM. I did immersive research on New Religious Movements, which was the foundation for my Religion capstone the following semester. I also completed Independent Study research on the weaponization of Middle Eastern Refugees and interviewed and consulted distinguished researchers in the field.

CAMPUS SERVICE ACTIVITY/AWARD

Office of Student Involvement- 3 years

The Office of Student Involvement’s mission is to foster meaningful connections and a sense of belonging among students through intentional programming, including training, mentoring, and coordinating co-curricular activities. As an Office Assistant for the Office of Student Involvement, I serve as the front line of the office, offering quality customer service to students and visitors, and contributing to the overall mission of fostering student connections and engagement on campus.

ABC- 4 years

I joined the organization in my freshman year, but the club struggled with low attendance and lack of campus presence. During my sophomore year, I decided to join the board. I had a very minor role (sophomore chair), but I took it very seriously and took the time to sit and observe. If there’s one thing I have learned about leadership, it is that observing is just as important as being assertive and commanding. As a sophomore, I was able to identify where we were letting both ourselves and other students down. We weren’t active enough on social media, and our programming wasn’t engaging. Post-COVID, people wanted to have more social programming that enriched a sense of community rather than constantly having serious talks about triggering subjects. I became co-president in Fall of 2021, and I initiated my plan to reinvigorate the club. I rewrote the entire ABC constitution and created all the board positions with definitions. I worked with the president’s office and got funding to restart ABC Orientation (a formerly discontinued historical event). I solely designed our orientation booklet. I wanted everyone on campus to know about what ABC was and what ABC did. I created a brand new leadership board, and ensured that ABC had programming every other week for the entire semester. As a result, active membership doubled, attendance increased tremendously, and ABC had a campus presence once again. Now I serve as a Senior Advisor for the current executive board.

NIA Sisterhood- 3 years

NIA is an organization for womxn of color. Our goal is to create sisterhood within the community and to have a safe space where people can feel supported. As NIA DEI director, I have held a presentation each year about a topic pertaining to DEI. I have stayed with NIA through various presidents and stayed a consistent member of the executive board stepping up whenever necessary.

Student Government Equity and Inclusion Member- .75 years

Equity & Inclusion serves as a liaison between the Student Government and intercultural organizations, coordinates programming efforts with the Office of Intercultural Development, and examines and explores opportunities to improve inclusivity on campus. In my term, we helped with the LGBT+ formal in coordination with OUT. We also started advertising and created a survey in order to improve Pard Pantry. I was in charge of advertisement for both and photography booking for the formal.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Lafayette Initiative for Malagasy Education- 2 years

This is a mentorship program designed to help Malagasy students learn English and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in the US. This 3-week study abroad program in Madagascar requires students to prepare extensively beforehand. As a mentor, I met biweekly with a small group of selected students, collaborating to create effective lesson plans focusing on SAT and TOEFL preparation. We refined our approach through trial and error, and even after the program, continued to assist students with their personal statements and essays, offering guidance based on our experiences. I think my work with LIME has really shown me how much I would like to improve our global community. I loved teaching and learning from our mentees. I was allowed to learn about Malagasy culture and interact with our mentees in a very informal personalized way.

Lafayette Mutual Aid- 3 years

I was in the foundation group of Lafayette Mutual Aid, a student-run mutual aid effort for Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) community members in the Lehigh Valley. We worked to distribute 15,000 dollars to 65 members of the Lafayette community more specifically those of BIPOC identity. We collaborated with SHEESH and LAF Sunrise in our first year. In March 2022, we combined with Dear Lafayette because most of our members
were the same and fundraised with Panhell and IFC and raised $2,250.

ATHLETIC ACTIVITY/AWARD

Dance- 4 years

I have been a pre-profession dancer since middle school. I have worked with Sandra Fortune Green, Misty Copeland, Chita Rivera, Hinton Battle (Tony Award Winner), and Obediah Wright. I danced with Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Washington Ballet. I have danced for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Campaign Kickoff, Michelle Obama’s Celebration of African American Women in Dance, Up In the Air: A Tribute to Louis Johnson (Broadway), and various productions at the John F Kennedy Center.

Cycling- .5

I have been going to various cycling classes like SoulCycle since I was in highschool, and I consistently go during winter and summer break at home. Recently. I’ve been making the most of Rec Services, particularly by attending cycling classes, which I’ve grown to love. The instructors are fantastic, and I find the classes invigorating. I’m truly grateful that the school offers such a fantastic fitness option.

SPECIAL INTEREST/ACTIVITY AWARD

CLS Spark Awardee

I was a 2023 recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship Spark Award for the study of Arabic. CLS is a virtual and in-person initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world

Dear Lafayette College Coalitiion- 2 year

I am part of the Dear Lafayette, a group committed to empowering Black, POC, and Indigenous students. Together, we developed a list of demands addressing racial, social, and educational equity on campus. Collaborating with different campus organizations, we created community spaces through town hall meetings and Instagram Lives. Additionally, we partnered with colleges in the LVAIC conference to enhance transparency. Our advocacy efforts focused on initiatives such as advocating for a minimum wage increase, promoting diversity among faculty, expanding mental health resources, and integrating more service components into the curriculum.

WJRH- .5 year

I co-hosted a radio show with my friends called “It’s Whatever” (Fall 2021). It consisted of a variety of music programming and conversation. We even had a call-in component.