This is part of a series highlighting recent ACE participants who are finding meaningful ways to connect and build on their ACE experience beyond their three-week ACE summer program. After student-athlete participants complete their ACE summer, they are encouraged to think about a specific goal that connects their ACE experience to their lives in a meaningful way. ACE staff support this process through the development of a personal ACE Action Plan and 1-1 coaching, group meetings, and check-ins throughout the year. Learn more about the ACE Plan Process and explore additional ways ACE student-athletes are supported post-experience here.
During his time in South Africa, Michael Volpe, an Economics major and junior on the Duke Men’s Swimming & Diving Team, saw how inflation, economic inequality, and monetary policy impacted the communities with which he worked. Upon returning to campus in the fall, Michael began crafting his Action Plan around these observations and how he could create positive change in these areas later on in his life. He initially thought about doing an independent study on monetary policy in developing economies, as he wanted to dive deeper into the topic and better understand to what extent the policies of central banks in countries like South Africa have hindered economic growth. Ultimately, Michael shifted his Action Plan focus from an independent study to taking courses related to his observations in South Africa. This decision enabled him to delve into the economic policies of developing nations while expanding his breadth and depth of knowledge around these topics.
Over this academic year, Michael has taken two courses related to these topics at Duke: ‘Anthropology of Money’ and ‘Development Economics’. In his Anthropology of Money course, he explored how colonialism and imperialism have changed how communities like the ones he worked with in South Africa use “money.” This semester, in his graduate-level Development Economics course, Michael has explored various issues surrounding developing economies and their ability to grow. Michael shared, “We’ve discussed micro issues, macro issues, governance, public health, education, and more. Surprisingly enough, and a major reason why I decided to take the class, is that the professor himself is from Cape Town. Much of the data we look at is from sub-Saharan Africa and often includes South Africa and South African cities.” He is currently working on a comprehensive research paper on economic issues in South Africa.
“This class [Development Economics] has exposed me to economic research, a career field I may be interested in pursuing and also has given me the opportunity to learn more about a topic I witnessed in South Africa.”
Spurred by his time in South Africa and his subsequent coursework at Duke this year, Michael hopes to pursue a career in economic research so that he can work to address economic inequalities.
Michael and a friend after their Anthropology of Money course, where they explore the challenges of commerce in developing economies like South Africa
Michael reflects, “As I consider this research for my class in the scope of service, I have reconsidered how to continue to be a more involved and responsible global citizen. ACE was truly phenomenal in giving me and eleven others the opportunity to spend our time on the ground in South Africa for nearly a month. Moving forward, I’m learning how engaging in research in development economics and finding solutions and ways forward for struggling economies can also be a form of service.”