Elon University senior Victoria “Tori” Davis has been named the recipient of a DACOR Bacon House Foundation fellowship for graduate study in international affairs, a $10,000 award that will assist her this fall as she begins work toward a doctorate in political science en route to a career with the U.S. Foreign Service.
Davis is one of 10 students to receive the award from the Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR). The organization solicits nominees from up to 10 invited institutions each year, of which Elon University is one for the 2009-2010 academic year. Faculty have expressed their gratitude to DACOR for selecting Elon to submit nominees for consideration.
“I’m very grateful to be able to accept this award,” said Davis, who was also a finalist this year for the Rhodes Scholarship and a finalist for the Truman Scholarship in 2008. “It’s an honor. I’m really fortunate to have this opportunity.”
The international studies and political science major from Fripp Island, S.C., has research interests that include culture and politics, and international human rights. She has published research on the United States’ anti-human trafficking policies in Virginia Policy Review, and she made a presentation on terrorism and diplomacy in October 2008 at the International Studies Association Conference.
“I’ve always had an interest in different cultures and communication styles, and culture and policy, and how all of that ties together,” she said.
Davis is an Elon University Honors Fellow and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She is also involved with the Intercultural Relations Club and has acted as co-director of awareness programs for Elon Volunteers! during her time at Elon. The 22-year-old served as treasurer of the Asian Studies Club, played club tennis and traveled to Cambodia in May 2008 for a university service trip she initiated.
Davis is the daughter of Greg and Ellen Davis, and her older sister, Kelsey, graduated from Elon in 2008.
According to its web site, the DACOR Bacon House Foundation was established “to develop mutual international understanding and strengthen ties between the people of the United States and other nations.” It provides up to $250,000 annually to encourage students to pursue careers related to foreign affairs.
Elon also nominated Rebecca Watts and Kelly McCarty for the award.
“Victoria is an outstanding international studies and political science major, whose excellent academic work at Elon has been complemented by studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan and a summer internship at the State Department,” said Brian Digre, a professor of history and director of Elon’s international studies major, who coordinated Elon’s involvement in the nomination process. “The foundation’s education committee noted that all of our nominees ‘were of exceptional caliber, rich in experience and promise.'”