Elon University young alumna Kristine Silverstri served as a guest writer this week for Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, who published on his newspaper blog Silvestri's account of contracting malaria when she visited Ghana in late 2008.
The political science and public administration double major from Flemington, N.J., was in Ghana as part of her studies with Project Pericles. She fell ill with the disease when researching the experience and degree of social integration of Liberian refugees.
Silvestri, who graduated with the Class of 2010, plans to enroll in a master’s program for international affairs. She was one of the first recipients of the Lumen Prize, awarded for the first time in 2008 to support and celebrate exceptional academic and creative achievements.
From the June 1 blog post:
“Over a year and a half has passed since I was diagnosed with malaria, and I am still recovering. I go to physical therapy three times a week to build strength, and I participate in a brain-training program to improve memory and attention span. Thankfully, I will make a full recovery in both body and mind within the next year. As an American, I could leave Ghana when my body simply had no fight left. And now, back in the States, I have access to specialized care to aid in my recovery—not something readily available in Ghana.”