![\"Two](\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2019\/02\/Tanzania2resized-300x200.jpg\")
Kotowicz came to 51ÁÔÆæ for graduate school because of the strong anthropology program, and decided to make Tanzania her total focus.<\/p>\n
She is thankful she\u2019s come so far in her academic career as a first-generation student from a family that offered plenty of non-economic support but was not able to help her financially. As an undergraduate, she was part of the McNair program. Then at 51ÁÔÆæ, she took part in the graduate school\u2019s AOP Fellowship Program, designed to assist underrepresented and low-income students. \u00a0She is now an advisor for 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s McNair program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe McNair program, both at Beloit and 51ÁÔÆæ and the AOP program has helped me in so many ways throughout this journey by fostering a love of research and by giving me the tools that I need,\u201d she said. \u201cFor scholars who are just starting their graduate school journey, I can speak to that because I\u2019ve been going through it. To be able to give back to that program is a great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
She is also looking forward to giving back to the people of Tanzania who welcomed her during her first trip and the nine visits that have followed. For three summers, she led other students in service trips.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re been kind enough to host me in their homes for several months at a time. The first time when I did my master\u2019s thesis, I spent eight months living with a family, who at the time knew very little about me. Now I consider them a part of my extended family. They\u2019ve given me so much. How can I repay them in return?\u201d<\/p>\n
She will be working with Dr. Huruma Sigalla at the University of Dar es Salaam and research collaborator Jacob Galahenga at Mzumbe University.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I go to Tanzania my connections grow. It\u2019s very much like a second home to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eventual goal is to have a career in academia, but also to be able to spend time in Tanzania.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want my work to have an impact, not just writing and publishing, but to give back to the communities. My ultimate goal is to set up a community center for the Maasai to allow visitors to come and learn about the culture. I want to merge academia and applied research to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Allison Kotowicz is the only graduate student from 51ÁÔÆæ to receive this prestigious award in recent years. She\u2019s studying the Maasai people of Tanzania and how they are preserving their identity in the 21st century.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":835,"featured_media":67359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174,175],"tags":[250],"section":[122,124],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[],"uwmnews-feed":[158],"class_list":["post-67358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-research","tag-student-success","section-campus-community","section-students","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","uwmnews-feed-letters-science"],"yoast_head":"\n