By Beth Kocher Gormley, Communications & PR Manager, UCD College of Business

“This is a global campus,” said Angel Brummett, a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Masters student in International Business. “I’ve met so many different people from different cultural backgrounds.”

Brummett was recently awarded the inaugural Howard University and UCD Smurfit School Scholarship to study in Dublin, Ireland, to gain the ability to effectively conduct business in a global workplace. “I hope that the course will prepare me for a career that takes me to many different corners of the world.”

As one of Europe’s leading business schools, UCD Smurfit School provides a vibrant nexus of connectivity, flow, and interaction drawing on Ireland’s location as a gateway to Europe, culminating in relevant research and programmes of study. Dublin’s place as a global hub of business and activity attracts the world’s leading multinational companies, including finance, tech, med tech, pharmaceuticals, and social media, to base their European headquarters in Ireland. Learn more here. 

Learning new perspectives

A drive to learn about diverse perspectives initially prompted Brummett to consider applying for the scholarship which offered an opportunity to pursue post-graduate education outside of the United States. “I think that studying international business outside of my home country will provide me with a more multicultural perspective.”

The scholarship is the result of the first-of-its-kind initiative which saw 12 Howard University School of Business students visit Dublin, Ireland and 19 students from UCD Smurfit School and UCD Quinn School, visit Washington DC, USA to focus on doing business in international markets, sustainable development goals, diversity and inclusion and cross-cultural learning. 

Howard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the US and one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) in the country. 

The initiative was endorsed by Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, a Howard University alumna, as she commented on the innovative collaboration during An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s visit to the Vice President’s Residence as part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations earlier this year. Full remarks can be viewed here. The initiative was generously sponsored by KPMG, Bank of America and the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN). 

“Receiving this scholarship alleviates a heavy financial burden that would have made obtaining my masters abroad impossible,” said Brummett who graduated with a B.B.A. International Business, with a concentration in Computer Information Systems, from Howard University. “I am grateful for this opportunity to continue my education and broaden my horizons.”

A native of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, USA, Brummett has strong professional and personal interests across sectors which include business, data analytics and computer information systems. Her curious nature even saw her build a computer during the Covid-19 quarantine and she has enjoyed learning about both coding and building computers ever since. 

“My plan is to continue my studies and pursue a career in academia to become a professor one day,” said Brummett. “This course is a stepping stone to continue my education and eventually complete my doctorate. The lessons I am taught here, both inside the classroom and out, I will use for the rest of my career.” 

“I enjoy learning from all my professors, and a standout is Assistant Professor Kathy O’Reilly, who is also an American! I love the energy she brings to every lecture.” 

Studying Abroad

During the pandemic, she also missed out on study abroad opportunities and set her mind to traveling in the future. For those considering studying abroad, Brummett offers encouraging words. “If you’re nervous about making such a big change, it’s completely understandable, but just do it,” she recommended. “I have met so many older people visiting Ireland telling me that they regret not taking an opportunity to study abroad when they were my age.”

She describes how the people she has met in Dublin come from all over the world and are now her friends. “Meeting them has truly been one of the best parts of my experience. If you are open to learning from your classmates, you will gain just as much knowledge from them as you do the professors. We enjoy exploring the city together, visiting museums, trying new restaurants and immersing ourselves in the country.” 

“Studying in Dublin is a constant adventure and I learn something new about Irish culture every day. Whether I am meeting friends to study in a new café or just taking the time to explore a new part of the city myself,” shared Grummet. “I love going to different cafes to study or read. I also enjoy thrifting and it is fair to say that my sweater collection has grown substantially since I arrived.” 

Learn more and support students

If you are a student or know someone who is interested in learning more about the Howard University and UCD Smurfit School Scholarships, please contact Elaine Aherne, Director of Admissions, UCD Smurfit School at elaine.aherne@ucd.ie. Two scholarships are available for Howard University students and alumni and will cover 50% of the tuition fees for one Full-time MBA programme, and 50% of the tuition fees for a choice of one MSc programme. The scholarship is open to Howard University students and alumni. Learn more here. 

If you are interested in supporting the Howard University and UCD Smurfit School scholarships for future students, please contact Dennis Brownlee, Founder and President of AAIDN at dennis@aaidnet.org, or Elaine Aherne, Director of Admissions, UCD Smurfit School at elaine.aherne@ucd.ie