Ryan

Ryan is a Marshall Scholar at Magdalen, reading for an MSt in Global and Imperial History.

I come from a family of Vietnam War refugees. They escaped to Malaysia and Indonesia on boats after the fall of Saigon, before resettling in the US. Though I grew up in central Massachusetts, my home was filled with stories about their lived experiences of war and empire. My parents and grandparents are remarkable storytellers, and I spent my childhood gathering all their stories. Yet when I entered school, none of these perspectives were reflected in what I was taught. Instead, the Vietnam War was presented solely through U.S. veterans’ viewpoints and through military and strategic narratives. I felt that there was a clash that I wanted to reconcile.

Throughout my life, I have been deeply engaged with Asian communities and histories. During my bachelor’s studies at Harvard, I pursued a range of historical investigations that sought to bridge the lived, community-based perspectives I grew up with and the institutional narratives I encountered in formal education. What drew me to Oxford is its unique strength in teaching empire through transnational, interconnected, and historically grounded lenses — approaches that are far less available in U.S. programmes.

I am now studying for the MSt in Global and Imperial History. My research traces the journeys of Filipino sailors during the transitional period between the Spanish-American and the Philippine-American War. Magdalen has provided me my first home in the UK. In my first term, I was elected the LGBTQ+ Officer, supporting fellow students and helping to build community. Beyond the social, my network at Magdalen has been incredibly helpful for my intellectual and personal growth. My College advisor, Professor Siân Pooley, is not only deeply knowledgeable in her field but has also been generous in connecting me with scholars who can help me explore the questions that drive my research.

The Marshall Scholarship has been far more than financial support; it has been a gateway to opportunity. I can always turn to the Marshall Network and to those who have taken paths similar to mine for guidance, mentorship, and connection. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supports the Marshall Scholarship. It has opened so many worlds to me, allowing me to continue to pursue big questions and to hopefully shape approaches to pressing issues we will face in the decades ahead.

In the future, I hope to pay this generosity forward — to future Marshall Scholars who share these curiosities but need this support to be able to fully pursue their answers.