GREENEVILLE – A Tusculum University alumnus has earned a prestigious scholarship, with help from his alma mater, that could position him to start a career on the diplomatic stage for the United States.
Eirik Dahlgren makes a presentation at Tusculum University’s Academic Symposium when he was a student.
Eirik Dahlgren, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history and museum studies from Tusculum in 2023, has been selected for Rotary International’s Global Grant Scholarship. This is a $35,000 scholarship that will enable him to complete a master’s degree in international conflict and cooperation from the University of Stirling in Scotland. He begins his program there Sept. 23.
Dahlgren plans to use this graduate degree as a springboard to a position with the U.S. Agency for International Development. This organization builds potential trade partnerships with other countries, which have been impacted by natural disasters or wars, through economic development support. Dahlgren’s subsequent goals are to earn a doctorate and then potentially work in an embassy or in other diplomatic initiatives.
“We are extremely proud of Eirik,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, who mentored Dahlgren during the application process. “He demonstrated tremendous promise during his Tusculum studies and is an excellent fit for this scholarship. He has already accumulated an impressive level of international travel and understanding of other cultures and will be an asset wherever his career takes him.”
The Rotary Club of Greeneville, of which Dr. Hummel is a member, sponsored Dahlgren as he applied for the scholarship.
The story leading to this scholarship began in a Contemporary Issues class Dahlgren took at Tusculum that was taught by Dr. Angela Keaton, professor of history. She invited an employee of USAID to speak to the class, and that piqued Dahlgren’s interest in that agency.
To obtain a position with USAID, Dahlgren realized his chances would increase if he pursued the degree he will earn at the University of Stirling. Enter Dr. Hummel, who heard through the grapevine about Dahlgren’s interest in USAID and alerted him about the Rotary scholarship. Dr. Hummel wanted someone from Tusculum to receive the scholarship and strongly encouraged Dahlgren to apply for it.
Eirik Dahlgren, center, joined David Bowlin, left, and Hughston Burnheimer for the excavation at Tel Lachish. This photo shows them after a day of work.
In addition to helping Dahlgren navigate the process, Dr. Hummel wrote a letter of support for him. Dr. Joel Van Amberg, chair of the History, Museum Studies and Religion Department at Tusculum, also provided support.
“I was excited when I received the news that I was selected for the scholarship,” Dahlgren said. “I was confident because I have a lot of experience abroad and I did well at Tusculum. Dr. Hummel was extraordinarily helpful, and his letter was an important part of my application. My degree at Tusculum was not just academic learning. I also developed the skill of being able to speak effectively with people while I was a student, and that was helpful in the application and interview process.”
In 2023, Dahlgren was one of three people from Tusculum who participated for three weeks in an archeological excavation at Tel Lachish in Israel led by Dr. Yosef “Yossi” Garfinkel, a professor of archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dahlgren also participated in a mission trip to Haiti when he was in high school and has engaged in personal travel in South America, Europe, Asia and Morocco.
To learn more about Tusculum, please visit www.tusculum.edu.