Humanity in Action Fellowship Offers Virtual Amsterdam Experience

Goldberg is looking forward to engaging with his cohort, which contains students and recent graduates from the Netherlands, the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and France.

“The opportunity to study alongside an international cohort was incredibly appealing,” Goldberg said. “I wholeheartedly believe that the kind of preventative action and promotion of democratic values that HIA seeks to achieve requires a diverse collective – for collective thinking, understanding and growth. So, learning and working alongside like-minded students with diverse backgrounds from countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece seemed like an incredible opportunity to meaningfully and effectively engage in this kind of work.”

Michael Joseph Smith, the Thomas C. Sorensen Professor and director of the Program in Political and Social Thought, appreciated Goldberg’s participation in his virtual courses.

“Spencer is an engaging, intelligent and consistently superbly prepared member of the PST third-year seminar,” Smith said. “His comments in class always seek to advance the discussion, and he has helped to make our year of online seminars full of humor and lively participation.

Nicole Eramo, an assistant vice president in the Office of the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer, was not surprised at Goldberg’s selection for the fellowship.

“Since arriving at UVA, he has shown a keen interest in the troubled history of the University and its impact on the local community of Charlottesville and Albemarle County,” Eramo said. “He has sought opportunities to not only learn more about this history, but to find ways to get that information out to others so they can serve this community with an awareness of its complexity and struggle. I am excited for him to bring his energy and thoughtfulness to this fellowship, and for what he will bring back to UVA to enrich this place even more in his fourth year.”

“The Humanity in Action Fellowship is not necessarily for those with the highest GPA or those who have participated in many organizations, but candidates have to have energy and a willingness to be uncomfortable,’ explained Andrus G. Ashoo, director of the Office of Citizen Scholar Development, the fellowships office of UVA.

Ashoo never neglects to talk about the intellectual and emotional exhaustion that can come from participating in this fellowship program.

“It is part of our duty to be honest with our students. I’m really glad that Spencer has run toward this challenge to grapple with important questions facing humanity with people from various backgrounds. He will likely need a good rest toward the end of the summer, but this promises to be a transformational experience for him.”

“I’m not sure what this will mean for my future,” Goldberg said. “At the very least, I will join a network of more than 2,500 Senior Fellows from around the world working in government, journalism, medicine, law, education, the arts, business and grassroots action. As a senior fellow, I will have access to internship programs, study trips, grant competitions, seminars and more. But most importantly, I’m hoping that Humanity in Action will help me develop my interests and passions before I graduate and enter the next stage of my life.”