Page 5 - 2014springnewsletter

Henry Richardson Labouisse ’26 Prize Seniors win Labouisse Prize for projects in South Africa and Sierra Leone By Michael Hotckiss, both molecular biology and public policy at Office of Communications Princeton,” Jeon said. In Zithulele, Jeon will interview women, Two Princeton University seniors have their partners and families, health care been awarded the Henry Richardson providers, and community leaders to Labouisse ’26 Prize to spend one year learn how contraception is viewed and Diane Jeon pursuing international civic engagement utilized. Then, in coordination with projects after graduation. The $30,000 nongovernmental groups and health care prize will support a project by Diane Jeon providers, she plans to design and begin to in South Africa and Storm Portner in implement programs based on her research Sierra Leone. findings to promote awareness and access to The award to Jeon will aid her efforts contraception. to identify and respond to needs and “I have felt compelled to return to perceptions surrounding the use of Zithulele from the moment that I left contraceptives in the Zithulele community in order to better understand, and in of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. some small way contribute to, a specific Portner’s award will assist him in community. I would also like to gain developing a maternal-health coordination insights more broadly applicable to global Storm Portner center in eastern Sierra Leone and will health and women’s rights,” she said. build on the efforts of other Princetonians Andrea Graham, an assistant professor kitchen initiative, and as a small group in the region. of ecology and evolutionary biology, said leader with Manna Christian Fellowship. The Labouisse Prize enables graduating Jeon’s project is a “terrific match for her Motivated by the cases of tuberculosis and seniors to engage in a project that skills and experience in both research and HIV that she observed in South Africa, she exemplifies the life and work of Henry communication.” interned last summer through the Princeton Richardson Labouisse, a 1926 Princeton “I am certain that Diane will admirably Internships in Civic Service program graduate who was a diplomat, international represent international ideals of honor, at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless public servant, and champion for the causes respect and understanding, thanks to her Program to research the epidemiology of of international justice and international wise and humble demeanor, her skills at these infectious diseases. development. The prize was established in integrative thinking, and her engaging Jeon plans to attend medical school 1984 by Labouisse’s daughter and son- manner of interacting with others,” and continue to research and write about in-law, Anne and Martin Peretz, and is said Graham, whom Jeon credits with the health of underserved populations, administered by the Princeton Institute for helping her better understand the science including women in developing countries as International and Regional Studies. underlying patterns of infection and well as homeless and immigrant populations Jeon, of San Diego, Calif., is a molecular immunology. in the United States. biology major who is also pursuing a Jeon said she is honored to receive the Portner, of Shamong, N.J., is an certificate in the Woodrow Wilson School Labouisse Prize. anthropology major and is pursuing a of Public and International Affairs. She first “It is an incredible privilege to go back to certificate in global health and health policy. visited Zithulele during the summer of 2012 South Africa and work with a community He got an introduction to the Wellbody to research early childhood education and that I have learned to care about deeply,” she Alliance’s efforts to improving care for prenatal care as a participant in Princeton’s said. “I am also excited to start preparing pregnant women and their children in International Internship Program. for what I envision will be a fruitful, Sierra Leone’s Kono District when he spent “The conversations that I shared and challenging, and humbling year.“ two months as an intern with the nonprofit the stories that I witnessed illuminated Outside of class, Jeon has been involved group in the summer of 2013. my perspective of global health and health extensively in music and community Wellbody Alliance — a public health policy, and the questions I began to ask volunteering: she takes violin lessons and care and social justice nonprofit co-founded about community health in a developing has served as a project coordinator for by physicians Daniel Kelly, a member of country have motivated my interests in Loaves and Fishes, a PACE Center homeless Continued on page 4 5 PIIRSNEWS SPRING 2014