University of Georgia student Allie Maloney (AB ‘24) has been named a 2024 Scoville Peace Fellow. The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship was established in 1987 to recruit and train the next generation of policy and advocacy leaders on international peace and security issues.

Allie will graduate in May as a First Honor Graduate with majors in International Affairs and Political Science, as well as certificates in Global Studies and Sustainability. 

In her time at UGA, Allie has participated in various student organizations across campus. Her involvement in Model United Nations and SPIA Ambassadors helped shape her interest in diplomacy and public service. She also spent a transformative summer studying abroad in Florence, Italy, exploring political psychology and legislative politics, broadening her understanding of global governance.

Inspired by her professors, she found herself drawn to the intricate dynamics of human rights and international security. 

“I was always interested in domestic politics so I came to UGA as a political science major,” said Allie. “It was after I took Global Issues with Dr. Leah Carmichael that I added international affairs as a major because I was fascinated by human rights and how that related to international security.”

Her academic journey took a pivotal turn when she discovered the intersection of human security and nuclear nonproliferation through the Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program (SLP) in the Center for International Trade & Security, with a particular focus on gender and substantive representation.

Her innate curiosity led her to attend a virtual talk last fall with Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO and the US’s chief negotiator for the New START Treaty, hosted by the International Affairs Department’s Dr. Naomi Egel. That talk, in combination with the section on gender and nuclear security in the first semester of SLP, propelled Allie on a course towards the Scoville Peace Fellowship—a prestigious opportunity to make a tangible impact in the realm of peace and security. This semester in the SLP, her research is analyzing whether women and men in the United Nations Security Council speak differently about the impact of nuclear weapons on human security. 

“Allie is an outstanding scholar. Her enthusiasm for international security and encouragement of her peers makes her a true joy to have in the SLP,” remarked Dr. Maryann Gallagher, senior lecturer of international affairs and the Director of the Security Leadership Program. “Throughout her time in the program, Allie has shown initiative and demonstrated her commitment to working in the field of human security. I’m incredibly proud of Allie and am sure she will be at the center of important discussion around nonproliferation policy in the future.” 

To Allie, being a Scoville Fellow signifies more than just a title—it represents a profound commitment to advancing global peace and security. 

“It means that the door is open in this field,” she states, emphasizing the impact she hopes to make. “This fellowship not only means that I get to work at my dream job, but I also have the opportunity to make a difference in the world.”

Reflecting on her time at SPIA, Allie acknowledges the profound impact of her professors, like Dr. Gallagher, as well as her peers in the SLP cohort. The supportive environment, coupled with invaluable research opportunities, has prepared her for the challenges that lie ahead. Her fondest memory—a poignant evening in Georgetown, surrounded by like-minded individuals bonded by a shared passion for peace and security—serves as a testament to the enduring camaraderie fostered by SPIA.

As Allie prepares to embark on her fellowship journey, she remains steadfast in her career goals. With her sights set on pursuing a graduate degree in international relations focused on nonproliferation and nuclear security, Allie envisions a future where she can contribute meaningfully to global peace efforts.