Abigail Sandala ’26, ’27M, an International Relations and Criminal Justice major in the Pre-International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) 3+2 program, admits that staying as busy as she does is not easy.

“It is a give and take situation sometimes; luckily I have multiple support systems,” she explained. “It takes organization, cooperation, and communication on my part.”

Sandala served as a student liaison when elected officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina (2025) and Serbia (2024) visited campus, and has presented her research in a number of settings, including recently at a major conference in Washington, D.C. In addition, she is a member of the women’s swim team and president of the Arcadia Model U.N. club.

“My professors are accommodating and understanding when I have other academic obligations or sporting events, while my coach is understanding and accommodating when I have academic conferences that may interfere with practice or competitions,” she said. “I work with everyone to establish a game plan ahead of time, and if there are last-minute schedule changes, I communicate right away.”

While taking an international law course with Professor Allyson McCreery, associate director of the IPCR program, Sandala expressed an interest in the liaison role, having augmented her studies with a certificate in diplomatic tradecraft at the American Graduate School in Paris in 2023. She was tasked with writing historical briefs about Bosnia and Herzegovina and personal biographies about the visiting delegates, briefing Arcadia faculty about the logistics and agenda. Once the visit arrived, her responsibilities shifted. 

“I was the main point of communication between the guests, faculty, and students, answering questions, relaying updates, and helping troubleshoot any unexpected issues,” she said. “I am extremely grateful to have had this experience, and I am hoping to continue for another year during my graduate studies.”

There were several similarities Sandala noticed between the visits.

“The delegations engaged in deep, meaningful dialogue with our students and faculty. Each group came with a genuine interest in comparing governance structures, discussing challenges of post-conflict political systems, and understanding the role of institutions in the pursuit of democracy themselves.

“I also noticed how open the delegates were to student questions, which created a productive environment for exchange, making the experience even more rewarding.”

Once her student liaison role concluded, she immediately shifted her focus to the annual American Society of Criminology conference. Held in Washington, D.C., she presented her research “Legacy of Conflict in Belfast: The Troubles and the Politics of Memory.”

“My research focused on how memorialization in Belfast, specifically for the Catholics, created spaces for reconciliation and collective healing within a post-conflict society entrenched in injustice, discrimination, and oppression,” she explained.

For Sandala, because she presented to experts in the field, her presentation led to much learning. “I was able to gain the opportunity to engage with scholars and practitioners who have similar interests. Their feedback helped me refine my research questions, strengthen my methodology, and think about my topic in new perspectives all in contribution to my undergraduate thesis project.” 

As president of the Model U.N. club, Sandala has taken on a leadership role that has helped members feel confident in exploring and debating global issues.

“I oversee weekly meetings, plan training sessions, and coordinate travel logistics to our annual conference at Harvard University. A big part of my responsibility is helping delegates from Arcadia strengthen their research, public speaking, and negotiation skills.”

What she looks forward to every semester are the flag sewing parties hosted by Model U.N., which are open to the entire campus community.  

“If the flags are torn, damaged, dirty, etc., the club helps clean and resew the flags in order to make them look brand new,” explained Sandala. “The good part of this event is that you do not need any sewing experience. This event helps the club give back to the community in a way that represents the international appreciation/recognition valued by Model U.N.” 

As she prepares to enter the graduate phase of her IPCR 3+2 program, Sandala plans to continue the momentum she’s built during her undergraduate career.

“I am extremely grateful to have had these experiences,” she said. “I am looking forward to continuing my studies at Arcadia.”