When David Nardelli was a boy he would travel to Boston with his father, who worked in construction. Watching the tall buildings rise to the sky captured the youngster’s interest. It’s difficult to conclusively say this is what led the Walpole native to envision for himself a future in urban planning, but he believes those experiences helped plant the seeds.
Then two years ago, when his family’s house burned down and in the aftermath assistance was hard to find (the Nardellis had to live for a year with an aunt), David doubled down on his original dream.
“It was something I became passionate about,” said David, who is carrying a double major of political science and sociology.
His interest in where and how people live – be it up the street or on the other side of the globe – led to a nomination for this year’s World Affairs Council of America Fellowship. David got the nod, and from March 15 to 17, he will represent Bridgewater State University at the council’s annual conference in Washington, D.C
“I’ve always been interested in world and international affairs, so it’s great that I’ll be able to engage with others interested in the same things,” he said.
The fellowship pays all of David’s expenses for the trip and allows him to partake of the conference.
Part of what earned him the fellowship was his Adrian Tinsley Program-funded research into Jordan and its policies toward Syrian refugees. Speakers on international affairs from The Institute of Peace and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding are high on David’s list of must-see speakers at the event.
He hopes to graduate from BSU in May, after which he’s hoping to attend graduate school for urban planning. As for a career, working in municipal government or organizations that help cities manage their growth would be ideal, he said. Going on to earn a PhD and teaching may also be in the cards.
“I really enjoy the research of policies regarding cities,” David said. (Story and photo by John Winters, University News & Media