Marley's story
“I am so grateful to the American Friends for providing this Scholarship and giving me this incredible opportunity. Thank you!”
Marley (centre) and two Sussex friends
Our US-based alumni often tell us how they treasure their memories of their time at Sussex: from summer picnics in Stanmer Park, to visits to the iconic Palace Pier and Royal Pavilion in Brighton, and experiencing the bright lights of the West End in nearby London.
When our Friends Scholars come to Sussex from America, they gain much more than a master’s degree; they are given a life-changing opportunity to live abroad amongst a richly diverse international community, to experience new adventures and make lifelong friends.
Every year, the Friends of the University of Sussex aim to support one masters student from the USA with a Scholarship. This is made possible thanks to generous donations from our US-based alumni.
Marley Swanson is this year’s US Friends Scholar and this is her story:
“I’m from outside of Portland, Oregon in the US. I graduated with a BA in Public Policy and Political Science from Gettysburg College in 2018. Afterwards, I worked at the American University in Cairo for a year before joining the Peace Corps in Botswana on an HIV/AIDS project. I was evacuated from my post in March 2020 when COVID-19 hit, and I returned to my hometown to work for AmeriCorps on an Economic Empowerment project with Metropolitan Family Service. I moved to Brighton with my partner in April and quickly felt at home.
“I chose to come to Sussex because of its stellar reputation – it is ranked #1 in the world for Development Studies, and has been for the past 5 years. I also wanted to study outside of the US to get a new perspective on the international development field. I love being close to London, but even closer to the coast!
“I was thrilled, relieved and grateful when I heard I’d been awarded the US Friends Scholarship. It is such an honour! Thanks to the financial support of the scholarship, I am able to focus my time and efforts on my studies rather than having to work to pay for my rent and living costs.
“I loved the feel of Sussex from the first time I set foot on campus – it is always bustling with activities, which makes me feel like I could get involved in anything. A real favourite of mine are the hiking paths on the South Downs, which are just up the road. The student community is great too – I feel lucky to get to know such amazing people inside and outside of the classroom.
“Studying at Sussex has given me a new perspective on international development. I have learned to be more critical of development practices and literature in a way that I will carry with me into my career. Adjusting to the amount of reading was a bit of a challenge at first and there is a lot more independent study outside of class and discussion in it. Now that I’m accustomed to it, I love this learning style!
"After graduating, I hope to do conflict and development work in London and to find a career in which I can marry my passions for food justice and development in a sustainable and ethical way."
I am so grateful to Sussex alumni for providing this Scholarship and giving me this incredible opportunity. For me, it has been truly transformational and has really changed my life.” marley swanson
us friends scholar
Contact us
If you would like to hear more about giving to Sussex or would like to discuss your donation, please email us at alumni@sussex.ac.uk.
One of our Development Team would be delighted to give you a call, or meet online, to have a chat about how your gift could support Sussex. Please do get in touch.