Maria Hamming graduated in 2018 from Grand Valley with a Bachelor of Science in Global Studies & Social Impact (GSI), and a minor in African American Studies (AAA).  She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the department of African and African Diaspora Studies.  Her research is primarily interested in black heritage tourism to Ghana and how this may influence an African American’s sense of belonging within the African diaspora and to their ancestral homeland.  Additionally, Maria’s research looks to the ways in which this African American sense of belonging, to Ghana, is received by Ghanaians.

Both GSI and AAA played a tremendous role in guiding Maria through her undergraduate education, as well as supporting her as she prepared to make the transition to graduate school.  While Maria was initially hesitant and uncertain about what would come post-graduation, it was the encouragement of numerous professors across Area and Global Studies which led her to consider graduate school, as well participate in the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program while at Grand Valley.  Due to the interdisciplinary nature of these programs, Maria gained the cultural competency, adaptability, and critical thinking skills necessary for both the academic rigor of a doctoral program, as well as future employability.  The experiences, course work, and skills accumulated while in GSI and AAA became the solid foundation on which Maria continues to build upon as a doctoral student.