The recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, only four of which are awarded annually at St. Francis College, Strahinja Kiselcic is an Honors student pursuing a double major in global studies and political science, along with a minor in human rights. Originally from Serbia, he is looking to work in the field of international relations once he obtains his master’s degree.

Why did you choose to enroll at St. Francis College?
In my final year of high school, I participated in an exchange program in New Mexico. I planned to take an extended break afterward, before applying to college, but a friend who was applying to St. Francis College at the time asked if I would consider doing the same, so we could live the Friends TV show life in New York City. While I got accepted to SFC, I knew I wouldn’t be able to attend without financial assistance. I learned about the Presidential Scholarship right before the application deadline and spent two full days writing the essay. A few months later, I learned I had received one of the scholarships! Once I took a closer look at the College, I grew to love the range of majors and minors as well as the variety of clubs. Also, the new campus is a cool place to be, and I value how SFC lets students take risks.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in at SFC?­­
For the last two years, I have served as president of the College’s Amnesty International chapter, where we’ve devoted a lot of time and energy to writing advocacy letters — more than 1,000 — for a variety of causes as part of the organization’s Write for Rights campaign. In addition, last year I was fortunate to participate in the Global Citizenship Alliance program in Salzburg, Austria.

Is there a professor or person at SFC who has impacted you in a meaningful way — whether academically or on a personal level?
Dr. Reza Fakhari has challenged me to broaden my worldview. He encourages me to think outside the box. I’ve also taken courses with Dr. Daniel Benson, who has shown me that life is rarely black-and-white. Both professors have taught me the importance of living an authentic life, of always remaining true to oneself and to one’s values and core convictions.

What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing my senior thesis — it’s on war and propaganda, how media influence our thinking — and waiting to hear from graduate schools. I got accepted into the MAIS (Master of Advanced International Studies) program at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna but also applied to Sciences Po in Paris and Uppsala University in Sweden. Beyond academics, I am taking part in Amnesty International USA’s Board of Directors Mentorship Program for young human rights activists, which introduces participants to board governance in a human rights organization. I was one of 15 young people chosen for this year’s program.