Hannah Sanders '20

What “wicked problem” did you study?

The double burden of malnutrition in Senegal.

Why IDS?

For me, IDS was more of a calling than a choice. The flexibility of planning my own program of study allowed for me to take the classes I need for graduate school and complete the HNGR program, all while diving into research on a topic I was passionate about.

What do you value about the IDS program at Wheaton College?

I value the emphasis on becoming a better and more critical writer and thinker. IDS re-enchanted learning because the program de-emphasises grades, which makes space for creativity, academic growth, and the pursuit of knowledge.

What would you say to someone who is considering the IDS major?

If you are passionate, self-motivated, excited about learning, and want your undergrad experience to be lasting and meaningful, then I say give IDS a shot. The application process will let you know if it's really something you want to do because the application essays require you to get specific. At first, this seemed paralyzing because I didn’t think I wanted to get specific, but Dr. Davis (the brilliant and supportive director) told me that by my senior year, I would be ready to specialize. He was right.

What is your final project title?

Power at Play: International Food Politics and the Double Burden of Malnutrition in Senegal.

What is your final project abstract?

In Senegal, rates of overweight and obesity are rising, though a high prevalence of undernutrition remains. The concurrence of these different forms of malnutrition poses a complex problem because the causes and impacts extend beyond the scope of scientific knowledge. Therefore, this project uses an interdisciplinary approach to better conceptualize the complex layers of the problem. First, offering an in-depth explanation of the problem will provide context for why the disciplines of Applied Health Science, International Relations, and Human Needs and Global Resources are best equipped to address the role of power dynamics in the international food system play. These power relationships are responsible for causing, perpetuating, and complicating the double burden of malnutrition in Senegal. Building off each discipline’s knowledge, the findings will be merged through a closer examination of food aid, international trade, and global agribusiness as they relate to poverty, power, and malnutrition in Senegal. A more comprehensive understanding, from integration, illuminates the necessity of interventions at every layer of the problem, which all unite through their common confrontation of power in order to right relationships.