2022 Undergraduate Fellow Spotlight: Deborah Delcid

Deborah Delcid is a rising senior at Trinity Washington University studying political science and international affairs. She was introduced to nonproliferation issues in a course titled Nuclear weapons and arms control. From a young age, Deborah has been drawn to advocacy work, however her academic courses, recent internship experiences, and current world events, have tapped a strong passion for global affairs and nonproliferation.

Deborah has interned at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum where she strengthened her leadership and advocacy skills as she found herself sharing the importance of human rights to individuals at the museum. She then became a Foreign Policy Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and gained hard skills in foreign policy. She also collaborated with four CSIS research fellows on an experiential capstone project culminating in a policy recommendation presentation. This fellowship inspired her pursue a career in diplomacy. Deborah continues to be a hard worker and loves to motivate those around her.

Final Presentation: The Nuclear Legacy in the Marshall Islands: Intersectional Approach

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In recent years, several crises have emerged in the Marshall Islands which has drawn international attention to the consequences of nuclear testing. Since 1946, the Marshallese have continuously struggled to regain the land, culture, and rights to health that was stripped from them during the Nuclear Age. After neglecting to warn the Marshallese about the possible consequences of testing, the Marshallese currently face serious climate, food, and health crises. This research explores the historical context of forced relocation imposed on the Marshallese, radiological effects from nuclear testing, and the impact that testing has had on the climate. This is to analyze whether the international and domestic efforts for supporting nuclear testing victims is sufficient to re-stabilize the Marshall Islands.