Lily Macdonald

Fulbright-American University Postgraduate Award

Lily will graduate in 2025 with an MA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen. During her undergraduate degree, she specialised in American domestic politics and foreign policy.

Lily’s background is in community development, where she has been actively involved in community integration projects for the past seven years. Her work has focused on a range of topics, including intergenerational work, youth empowerment, and inclusive networking for neurodiverse individuals and their families.

Lily has also contributed to community development research projects, including designing and conducting research into the politicisation of an Aberdonian neighbourhood and its impact on residents’ livelihoods. She has also supported university staff in their research projects by contributing to the collection and analysis of data.

Through her Fulbright-American University award, Lily aims to immerse herself in diverse university, district, and political communities. She hopes to bridge her passions for community development and academia by researching the relationship between political infrastructure and grassroots conflicts - exploring the causes, effects, and potential solutions to such conflict.

Outside of academic interests, Lily is a keen musician who is looking forward to exploring the DC music scene.