Student Profiles
Jane Marie Russell
Political Science; Minors in Latin American Studies, Asian Studies
Class of 2007
Miami, FL
"Since a young age, I knew that studying abroad would be an integral part of my college experience. Studying abroad is truly 'hands on' learning and the Honors Program strongly encourages its students to travel abroad, so I knew that there would be few obstacles to pursuing an international study experience.
"Last spring, I applied for a research grant from the Honors Program. I created a proposal to study Chinese outbound tourism in China this summer. Originally, I had planned to write my thesis about a political science topic, specifically related to Latin America. In Fall 2005, I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, where my passion for Latin America grew. However, upon my return to Notre Dame, my academic interests broadened to include a growing fascination with China.
"My thesis topic is based on the Chinese government’s policy, Approved Destination Status, which controls when and where Chinese citizens can travel internationally as tourists. Few people know about this policy in China, much less in the United States. This topic combines my interest with government, international relations, travel, and China. Thanks to the Honors Program, I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xian, and Beijing this summer, where I conducted interviews with US Government employees at the Shanghai Consulate and Embassy in Beijing. I also interviewed several knowledgeable Chinese travel industry officials. This trip was crucial to my thesis research, because I had access to information only available in China.
"Professor Delaney hosts the Senior Thesis Colloquium in which all seniors can discuss and track their thesis writing progress. As I begin the journey of analyzing and writing my thesis, I appreciate that the Honors Program provided the resources for me to conduct my preliminary research, as well as foster a structured, yet relaxed, atmosphere for me to write the thesis this year. "
