Sophia McCann

The Fulbright Aberystwyth University Summer Institute on Identity and Nationhood

Sophia was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and raised in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri. She is a rising sophomore at the University of Missouri-Columbia majoring in Geography. After completing her baccalaureate, Sophia hopes to pursue a Master’s and eventual career in urban planning.

As an urban planner, Sophia intends to help communities preserve their unique identities and increase community engagement in the planning process. To accomplish these goals, Sophia knows she will need an in-depth understanding of the relationships between communities and their local governments. She believes participating in the Aberystwyth Summer Institute will provide invaluable insight into this relationship which she can use to facilitate community involvement at her University and into her career.

Having never traveled abroad before, the list of what Sophia is excited to experience in Aberystwyth is an extensive one. She hopes to view The National Library of Wales’ collection of maps and pick up as many Welsh phrases as she can. Most of all, Sophia is looking forward to meeting new people and exploring Wales’ unique perspective on identity and culture.