This week, we cast a spotlight on Callie O’Shea, a University at Buffalo senior and active participant in Hillel of Buffalo.
Callie’s story begins far from our community, as she spent her early childhood living in various countries due to her father’s career in finance and her mother’s entrepreneurial work running Laos Buffalo Dairy in Laos. Having lived in Singapore, Laos, and Hong Kong, Callie developed a unique perspective on global cultures, international relations, and the dynamics of diverse societies. After moving to Poughkeepsie for high school, she found a new home in Buffalo at UB to pursue her college studies.
A Global Affairs major, Callie is deeply committed to understanding the complex issues facing our world today. Her academic pursuits have included working with Dr. Michelle Benson as an Undergraduate Research Assistant for United Nations resolutions, where she assesses the reliability of coding related to UN Security Council resolutions.
Beyond her studies, Callie is highly involved in campus life. She is an active member of Alpha Sigma Tau, a sorority that emphasizes service, leadership, and scholarship. As part of her involvement with Hillel of Buffalo, Callie serves as her sorority’s representative on the Jewish Greek Council. Additionally, she is a member of the Impulse Dance Club, where she can express her creativity, and the Women’s Awareness Alliance, which focuses on raising awareness for women’s issues and social justice.
This fall, Callie served as Hillel’s MitzVote intern, registering over 350 students to vote in the election and promoted Jewish civic engagement on campus. Through this internship, she encouraged students to get involved in the political process and understand the importance of voting.
As a senior, Callie is preparing for the next chapter of her academic career. She is currently applying to master’s programs in Global Affairs internationally, hoping to further her expertise in international relations and pursue a career that will allow her to contribute to global peace and diplomacy.
