U of A junior Sol Halle was named an En Voz Alta Mentorship recipient and will get the opportunity to attend a professional development program in national security.

The En Voz Alta mentorship program is offered by the Women’s Action for New Directions organization, which seeks to increase the number of Latinas in the field of national security. The En Voz Alta program pairs Latina mentors with early-career professionals, graduate students and undergraduates throughout the United States. Sol was paired with a mentor at the U.S. Department of State.

Monthly meetings and additional programming help participants develop a professional skillset to enter a career in national security.

“As a Latina, it is great to be a part of a group whose mission is to connect Latina voices — which are heavily underrepresented — to the realm of peace and security,” Halle said. “I am incredibly eager to learn from my mentor, Isabel Romero, and my fellow mentees. I would also like to thank Dr. [Xavier] Medina and Dr. [Laurence] Hare for sending out information about En Voz Alta; without them I would not have known about this fantastic opportunity.”

Halle is an honors junior pursuing majors in international studies (with a concentration in peace, human rights and security) and political science, as well as minoring in French.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Halle also lived in Santiago, Chile, before moving to the United States. She was recently named an Outstanding Delegate at the National Model United Nations competition, as well as Superior Committee Speaker and Superior Caucus Debater at Student Congress Debate.

She has also been involved as an Audubon Solar Campaign volunteer and a member of Sigma Iota Rho, honors society for students of international relations. Her honors research mentor is Xavier Medina, associate professor of political science, and Diane D. Blair, professor of Latino studies. She plans a career working for the U.S. Department of State or a non-governmental organization focused on international relations.

“Sol has been an outstanding student in international and global studies,” said Laurence Hare, associate professor of history and director of the International and Global Studies Program. “Her work in the classroom has been exemplary, and she was a distinguished member of her Model U.N. delegation. We are delighted that she will benefit from an En Voz Alta mentorship as she pursues an internationally-focused career in public service.”

Students interested in applying for nationally competitive internships or scholarships, such as the En Voz Alta program, should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-2716.