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Cambridge University International Security and Intelligence Programme

GNSI Sending Two Students to Cambridge ISI

The Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida is proud to announce that, for the first time ever, they will be sending two USF students to attend the prestigious International Security & Intelligence (ISI) Programme at Cambridge University in England.

Lilie-May Birch, a junior at USF, and sophomore Kyle Rudd will spend five weeks this summer at Cambridge University, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious academic institutions. The two were selected from a field of applicants to attend ISI, and GNSI will provide most expenses, including travel, lodging, and tuition. 

Birch and Rudd are both members of the GNSI Future Strategist Program, a relatively new organization created to provide additional opportunities and experiences for USF students interested in careers in global and national security.  

Their interest in national security dovetails very well with the ISI Programme, which brings leading researchers, instructors and practitioners to Cambridge for the summer, providing students with the chance to learn from the world’s best.

[Kyle]: I’m incredibly excited to learn firsthand from leading global experts. Since my goal is to serve in the federal government, focusing on cybersecurity and counterterrorism, gaining insights into how other countries approach these critical issues will be invaluable. [May]: I hope to further my experience within the field of intelligence and security, as well as develop a well-informed opinion on current pressing issues.

Kyle Rudd and May Birch
USF Students Attending ISI

Both students are working towards earning undergraduate degrees in International Affairs at USF, while Rudd is also earning a degree in Economics. Rudd has already spent time in England as part of a study abroad program with USF Honors College. For Birch, this will be her first trip to England.

This is the first year of an agreement between GNSI and the Cambridge Security Initiative in which GNSI sends up to four qualified students to the annual ISI Programme.

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About GNSI News

The GNSI Newsroom is dedicated to highlighting news and ideas from the world of global and national security, as well as stories that focus on the Global and National Security Institute at USF. We want to emphasize the many ways GNSI leads the university's strategic focus on global and national security.