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Quyen Vo

Biography

Quyen Vo contemplates his long journey from Vietnam to impoverished East Oakland, then to a private college preparatory school on scholarship, and onward to Yale. "I am forever grateful for opportunities to attend excellent educational institutions. I am frustrated that many children in my old neighborhood do not obtain a good education, receive adequate healthcare, or live in a safe environment."

For a high school senior project, Quyen employed his photography and graphic skills in community service, portraying a nonprofit program's mentally disabled adult clients in a "truthful and visually appealing manner." The emotional interactions with his subjects helped Quyen recognize the importance of the artistic process as well as the product. In college, Quyen volunteered with a service aiding low-income New Haven residents with housing and employment. He also clerked at a community law center, helping families in an area notorious for crime and poverty.

Quyen chose a varied and demanding curriculum at Yale. His work impressed his professors with its strong research, reasoned argumentation, and good writing. The deeper study of poverty and development drew Quyen to graduate school. "I am particularly interested in examining social structures that perpetuate or alleviate poverty." This scholarship provides the means for Quyen to attain his aspirations. He plans to study economic and social history, gaining a background in economic theory and statistical methods. He will then use this knowledge in a Ph.D. program, investigating poverty and development in a global context. Eventually, a law degree will allow him to affiliate with organizations that defend the rights of the most vulnerable members of society.

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