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.
“What motivates me in my research is to make the world a better place,” Vu said. “If you understand the root cause of conflicts, you can maintain peace and prosperity between all countries.”
At the conference, Vu presented his paper, “Can Vietnam’s Bamboo Diplomacy Withstand Future Regional Conflict?” 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 91tvӰԺ 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 91tvӰԺ.
“I would recommend signing up for conferences right here at 91tvӰԺ,” Vu said. “We have a great one, the 91tvӰԺ Undergraduate Humanities Conference, hosted every spring.”
Approaching his first conference, Vu admitted he was “a little scared” but relied on dedicated practice and advice from trusted mentors to prepare.
“I was practicing my speech four to five times a day until it became muscle memory,” Vu said. “The best option is just to train, train, train. The more you do it, the better you get.”
Vu also sought feedback from professors on presentation slides, structure, and overall conference etiquette.
“Honors professor Arman Mahmoudian gave me tips on how to prepare for the conference,” Vu said. “He told me, ‘The first time is always intimidating, but just go ahead and do it.’ That’s what I did.”
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
One of the most challenging aspects of Vu’s preparation was securing funding for his travel from Florida to Indiana. Despite several initial rejections, Vu remained determined.
“Everybody was turning me down, and I thought, ‘No way am I going to cancel this,’” Vu said. “I’m going to keep knocking on as many doors as I can.”
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, Vu’s 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.
“I 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,” 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.
“It’s crazy to think about how this opportunity could lead to other things later on,” 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 91tvӰԺ and afterward.
He hopes his story inspires other students to pursue conferences, even those far away or primarily targeted at graduate students.
“Don’t worry about failing or not qualifying. Everyone is qualified,” Vu said. “If the first couple of tries don’t work out, that’s alright. Just keep going!”