KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 29, 2024

Claudia Garavis Montagut doesn’t waste time.

At just 19 years old, the international student from Colombia has completed an undergraduate research fellowship, gained international field research experience, led the university Model United Nations as its president, and enrolled in the KSU Journey Honors College. She has also been named a President’s Parliament Scholar Ambassador, serves as a Radow College Ambassador, is a Double Owl pursuing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously, and serves as a campus tour guide.

That’s just a partial list.

“KSU has a place for everyone, no matter who you are or what your interests are. And I have a lot of interests,” Montagut said, laughing.

Next month, Montagut, who is pursuing an international affairs degree with a minor in political science, will participate in a panel discussion on international affairs with other undergraduate researchers during the annual conference of the Georgia Political Science Association on St. Simons Island. The panel will be chaired by political science professor Thomas Nisley, and Montagut will discuss her internship last summer in Pampas Grande, Peru.

While the audience will hear from Montagut about improving water access in Peru with the help of the nonprofit sector, the experience was enriching in many ways beyond the research.

Her summer internship with nonprofit Pan Peru began with a flight into the coastal capital city, Lima. From there she rode a series of buses for 18 hours that took her two miles into the sky, as they took narrow, winding roads to the mountain town of Pampas Grande.

“I saw that the tires were right beside the cliff; one wrong move, and that’s it,” Montagut said. “The kids in the village asked me, ‘Who was your bus driver?’ I said, ‘Mr. Marcos,’ and they said, ‘he’s the only one who hasn’t crashed.’”

In addition to studying the local practices for collecting rainwater for drinking, sanitation and irrigation, Montagut taught English in local schools and provided tutoring in a variety of subjects to visitors to Pan Peru’s library.

“I learned so much from seeing the daily lives of the people there and their generosity,” Montagut said. “I learned you don’t have to have a lot to share a lot.”

Montagut grew up in Colombia, the youngest of five children. She was always interested in studying in the United States, and though her father wanted her to study in Colombia, he was happy to have her enroll in an intensive English program at Kennesaw State because she could live with family members in Kennesaw.

Once at KSU, she applied for admission and earned a scholarship, so she has stayed and thrived.

Montagut’s career goal is working internationally with intergovernmental and nonprofit organizations dealing with immigration and international affairs.

Nisley has no doubts that Montagut will achieve whatever she sets her mind to.

“Claudia is one the most focused and organized individuals I have ever encountered,” Nisley said. “She has a keen intellect and a genuine curiosity about the political world.”

Despite her hectic pace and growing list of achievements, Montagut said she hopes to be remembered for more simple things.

“I want people to remember that I came early to class and sat in the front, and that I opened doors for the people coming behind me,” she said.

– Story by Gary Tanner

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.