Fox Cities News

Cailey (Quynh Anh) Cao Le, a sophomore at Lawrence University, has announced her plans to further her studies in international relations this summer in Basel, Switzerland. Her interest in history and diplomacy led her to major in international relations.

Cao Le will work as a research assistant at Swisspeace, an institute affiliated with the University of Basel that focuses on international peacemaking solutions. She will join mostly graduate students in this endeavor. The opportunity was made possible through Lawrence’s Class of 1968 Peace and Social Activism Fund, which will cover her travel expenses.

The research project involves peace negotiations in five countries: Cameroon, Colombia, Mali, Myanmar, and Thailand. Cao Le's focus will be on Myanmar. "It’s a very long-term project at the Ph.D. level," she said. "With my expertise in East Asian politics, I will deal with the chapter of Myanmar and the experience of the peace negotiation and the military enrollment in Myanmar."

Cao Le has shown a strong interest in East Asian studies and international conflict resolution within her major. She has focused particularly on China, South Korea, and Vietnam—her home country.

Before attending Lawrence University, Cao Le studied for a year at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. She declared her major during her first term at Lawrence.

Her academic journey includes several notable research projects. She participated remotely with Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs researching Vietnamese foreign policy and studied U.S.-Vietnamese cooperation at Fulbright University Vietnam. Additionally, she represented Vietnam as a delegate at the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations Conference in Hong Kong where she met high-ranking political leaders from Hong Kong and China.

This year, Cao Le has concentrated on research and writing articles while continuing to travel for academic purposes. During spring break, she visited The Gambia with other Lawrence students to conduct interviews for individual projects—a transformative experience for her.

"Listening to the community voice really matters to understand the bigger picture and to find innovative solutions," she remarked.

Post-graduation plans include completing a fellowship in China to study its politics and interactions with Vietnam before returning to the United States for a Ph.D., aiming eventually to become a professor of international relations.

"I’m kind of certain I will end up in Vietnam," she stated. "I really want to come back to contribute to diplomatic scholarship in my country."

Although leaving Vietnam was challenging for Cao Le, she finds satisfaction through new experiences gained from her research endeavors abroad. She appreciates Lawrence University's supportive environment that fosters close collaboration with professors.

"I want to say thank you for the support of the Lawrence professors and my friends," she expressed gratitude. "Without their support, I could never be this strong. I want to promise I will do something to pay it forward for the Lawrence community for helping me achieve all these things."