A junior double majoring in economics and political science at the University of South Florida, Judy Genshaft Honors College student Alex Vu has cultivated a deep interest in political affairs. Initially a computer science major, Vu became increasingly drawn to the ways economic forces have shaped real-world events throughout history. This shift in focus led him to explore Vietnamese foreign policy, and in September 2024, he presented his research at the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.
âWhat motivates me in my research is to make the world a better place,â Vu said. âIf you understand the root cause of conflicts, you can maintain peace and prosperity between all countries.â
At the conference, Vu presented his paper, âCan Vietnamâs Bamboo Diplomacy Withstand Future Regional Conflict?â His research combined economics and public policy to analyze potential future foreign relations under various scenarios.
Though presenting at an academic conference is a significant achievement, Vu discovered he was the only undergraduate among attendees, who were primarily graduate students, professors, and political scientists. He described the application process and securing funding as challenging, but his resilience and passion for economics and political science led to the opportunity to represent ±«Óătv on an international stage.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Before attending the conference, Vu had never presented his work professionally. While he embraced the challenge of presenting at a major conference, he encourages others to take advantage of any opportunity, including those at ±«Óătv.
âI would recommend signing up for conferences right here at ±«Óătv,â Vu said. âWe have a great one, the ±«Óătv Undergraduate Humanities Conference, hosted every spring.â
Approaching his first conference, Vu admitted he was âa little scaredâ but relied on dedicated practice and advice from trusted mentors to prepare.
âI was practicing my speech four to five times a day until it became muscle memory,â Vu said. âThe best option is just to train, train, train. The more you do it, the better you get.â
Vu also sought feedback from professors on presentation slides, structure, and overall conference etiquette.
âHonors professor Arman Mahmoudian gave me tips on how to prepare for the conference,â Vu said. âHe told me, âThe first time is always intimidating, but just go ahead and do it.â Thatâs what I did.â
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
One of the most challenging aspects of Vuâs preparation was securing funding for his travel from Florida to Indiana. Despite several initial rejections, Vu remained determined.
âEverybody was turning me down, and I thought, âNo way am I going to cancel this,ââ Vu said. âIâm going to keep knocking on as many doors as I can.â
After discussing his challenges with Honors advisor Megan Braunstein, she encouraged him to apply for Honors College funding. After reaching out to Dr. Lindy Davidson, he prepared a brief speech that focused on why his project deserved a travel grant to present at the conference. After delivering his speech, Vuâs application for funding was approved, and the Honors College covered his flights and accommodations.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
According to Vu, his preparation for the conference paid off, leading to valuable professional connections. He met graduate students, renowned academics, and University of Notre Dame faculty.
âI had the chance to talk with the admissions staff for the Keough School of Global Affairs at Notre Dame, the graduate school that hosted the conference,â Vu said.
He also connected with a fellow panelist who was researching sub-national U.S.-China politics. This connection inspired Vu to write papers on state-level diplomacy, which helped him secure a spring internship in Washington, D.C.
âItâs crazy to think about how this opportunity could lead to other things later on,â Vu said.
LOOKING AHEAD
Vu plans to apply his experience with extended research projects to his Honors thesis. His journey to funding has also prepared him to seek future opportunities like jobs and internships during his remaining semesters at ±«Óătv and afterward.
He hopes his story inspires other students to pursue conferences, even those far away or primarily targeted at graduate students.
âDonât worry about failing or not qualifying. Everyone is qualified,â Vu said. âIf the first couple of tries donât work out, thatâs alright. Just keep going!â