By Maria Newman ’16
Martha Bierut ’15 stood out as an undergrad and was awarded for it. She was one of only 51 fellows selected for a prestigious Princeton in Africa Fellowship (PiAf) during her senior year at Scripps. PiAf received nearly 450 applications nationwide during the 2014–15 academic year and offered placements to the top 51 deserving candidates. Bierut was placed in Uganda, where she has been pursuing her passion for environmental conservation through work with the Kasiisi Project/Kibale Forest Schools Programme.
Maria Newman ’16 recently spoke with Bierut to catch up with the enterprising alumna and find out more about her fellowship.
Maria Newman: How did you find out about this fellowship?
Martha Bierut: I found PiAF on the Inside Scripps website, under Post-Graduate Fellowships. I applied, and when I got the interview offer from the fellowship, I visited Career Planning & Resources [CP&R] for a mock interview.
MN: How did your coursework at Scripps influence your decision to apply to PiAf, and what are you working on as a fellow?
MB: I spent a semester in Kenya and Tanzania during my junior year, through Scripps’ Study Abroad and Global Education [SAGE]. I studied wildlife management with the School for Field Studies. I applied to PiAF out of a desire to return to East Africa and work in a wildlife conservation-related field.
I’m now with the Kasiisi Project/Kibale Forest Schools Programme, a non-governmental organization that works with 14 primary schools surrounding the Kibale Forest. The program promotes conservation, health issues, and supports scholars. I work closely with the conservation education coordinator to plan lessons, activities, budgeting, and field trips for the schools, as well as with the administrative side as an assistant to the Ugandan field director, where I attend meetings and take minutes. I also run the organization’s social media accounts and assist with any IT-related issues.
MN: How did Scripps prepare you for the work you’re doing?
MB: Scripps gave me a good foundation for work ethic, and I had many classes involving group work, which have assisted me as a collaborator between the organization and local schools. My two years working as a Scripps IT intern also helped prepare me to provide a wide variety of IT-related support.
MN: How would you sum up your experience in Uganda to date?
MB: My time in Uganda is going very well! It is a beautiful, ecologically diverse country, and the people are incredibly kind. The organization has provided great housing just a 10-minute walk from my office. I’m in rural, western Uganda, which makes my days quiet, safe, and serene. I’m about 12 km down the road from the nearest town, Fort Portal, which has much to do and great food. I’m incredibly happy here and so grateful to have this opportunity! It feels like the greatest reward for my hard work at Scripps.
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