About IWU
After studying in Africa as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Shannon O'Rourke extended her time in Senegal with an internship for the nonprofit organization 10,000 Girls.
Your hometown? Grand Rapids, Mich.
Why Wesleyan? I was looking for a small school with an established international studies program and an active campus.

I visited Illinois Wesleyan for two days and knew it was where I wanted to be.
Your major? Double major in international studies and political science.
Favorite professor or class? International Politics with Frank Boyd, Politics in Africa with William Munro, and Third World Women Speak with Alison Sainsbury.

Also, my senior seminar professors: Kathleen Montgomery (political science) and Michael Weis (history).
After Wesleyan?  I spent two months working at a mission base in Costa Rica.

Then I spent 6 months as a Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar for the Rotary Foundation and working for a small non-profit organization in Senegal, West Africa.

Now I’m headed to graduate school at George Washington University to study international development.
For fun?  Dancing
The best?  Helping others, dancing with friends till dawn, homemade guacamole, laughing till your stomach hurts, teranga.
Favorite book? Bible
Favorite band?  U2
Favorite movie?  Amélie
Favorite quote? "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems." — Mahatma Gandhi
Shannon in Africa
During her time at Illinois Wesleyan, O'Rourke completed a summer internship with the Office of International Women’s Issues, a division of the State Department’s Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs.

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