Ashley Cutler ’08 began taking courses at St. Lawrence before she enrolled. “I participated in the Talented Juniors program during high school, and really liked the course I participated in, on World Politics,” says the Norwood-Norfolk High School graduate and resident of Norwood, NY.

Ashley also has an interest in campus politics. She was a senator the in the Thelomathesian Society (the student government organization) since her first semester on campus, and is and now central treasurer. The government and French double major is also secretary/treasurer of Pi Sigma Alpha, the government honorary society, participating in a project to bring films to campus to promote political discourse.

Two features of her academic experience stand out for Ashley: her international study experience in France and Senegal, and her senior research project on the Front National in France.  For her research project, she has received a grant that allows her to travel to France in January 2007 to for research.

“I am researching a radical right political party, le Front National, and its influence on contemporary French politics,” she explains. “I chose this topic because it combines my two majors and because I became very interested in French politics while studying in France in fall 2006.  I plan to conduct interviews with leaders of parties in opposition to the FN, to gain insight into the influence of the FN on other political parties.

“Nothing is better than actually experiencing what you are learning about,” she says.  “These really are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”