Shelby Bourgault is a recent graduate of Connecticut College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and East Asian Studies. In order to gain a more global perspective as an undergraduate student, Shelby completed two semesters abroad in Beijing and achieved advanced proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. Upon returning to the US, her studies focused primarily on Chinese women’s labor migration, human trafficking, and gender ideologies in the military. As a senior, Shelby was invited to co-author an article with her advising professor on theoretical approaches to UN preventative diplomacy, which they hope to publish later this year. Shelby is excited to join WIIS this summer and continue researching the gendered aspects of the US military, specifically the integration of women in combat roles and the impact of military presence on civilians.
