UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumna and 2023 Schwartz Fellow Amelia V. Dodoo recently immersed herself in a project close to her heart — engaging with communities in the West African country of Ghana to explore how political corruption shapes Ghanaians lives and futures. 

The Rhea S. Schwartz Fellows Program in the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts provides up to $45,000 annually to one graduating student to support a year-long postbaccalaureate service project. The fellowship was established in late 2021 by Rhea Schwartz, a 1971 graduate in French and Francophone studies, and her late husband, Paul Wolff. 

The fellowship — which focuses on initiatives related to issues like social change, disaster relief, youth development and other community-focused efforts — gave Dodoo the opportunity to return to her roots and engage in work she described as both eye-opening and life-changing. Working with the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Ghana, the former Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow — who graduated with degrees in psychology and African studies in 2023 — said she was driven by a desire to bridge gaps in understanding about corruption — a topic that she says is frequently considered to be a "taboo” discussion in Ghana. Dodoo traveled to Ghana during the 2023-24 academic year to conduct research in four regions, working in Tamale, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Ada in the Northern, Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra regions, respectively. There she connected with youth collectives initiating challenging conversations.  

"Corruption is everywhere. That’s a notion few people emote," she said. "I think the way it plays out in Ghanaian society has a tremendous effect on its citizens." 

Engaging the future of Ghana 

Dodoo’s fellowship work focused on empowering young Ghanaians to imagine their role in shaping their country's future. She emphasized that political corruption, which often leads to ineffective policies and compromised access to essential services, has a significant impact on daily life.

For Dodoo, the heart of her work lay in engaging Ghanaian youth in open discussions about their vision for the future. She sought to break the barriers that often discourage young people from speaking out on political issues.

"My goal was to invigorate these young people to say this is something you can do too. This isn’t going against our culture,” she said. “You can still be a traditional Ghanaian and talk about corruption because you want Ghana to be better.” 

She noted that conversations were slow to unfold in the beginning, recalling how participants were often hesitant, perhaps fearful of speaking too openly on sensitive topics.

"At first, everyone was reluctant to speak,” she said. “But as the conversations went on, people became a lot more open to those around them. For many, it was apparently the first time they realized that others shared the same struggles.” 

Fellowship funding as a catalyst for good 

In addition to the invaluable financial support afforded by the Schwartz Fellowship, the monies from the program ultimately provided Dodoo with the opportunity to travel across the country she grew up in, connect deeply with people, listen to their stories and advocate for lasting change.

"It took off the blinders, really. There’s a sense of urgency in our pursuit of tackling corruption," she said, adding that for her, the fellowship wasn't just about research — it was about inspiring a new generation to believe in their power to shape a better Ghana.  

A lifetime commitment to change 

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Dodoo moved with her parents to Accra, Ghana, where she spent much of her childhood. "I do feel at home when I am there because that is where I did the majority of my schooling, and I have grandparents and other relatives who live there," she shared. The experience of living between two countries, each with different governance structures, inspired her passion for addressing corruption and fostering transparency. 

Her father's previous work as a professor of demography and population studies at Penn State also influenced her perspective, highlighting the power of policy in shaping societies. She said she hopes to continue building on this foundation. 

Dodoo is currently pursuing her juris doctor degree at Penn State Law and is already envisioning the next steps in her journey. She said she aspires to return to Ghana to conduct a longitudinal study, visiting the communities she worked with to track the progress made over time.

"I can fully see this being a significant aspect of my life's work in a sense where I'm able to keep doing research that introduces these topics,” she said. 

“This experience was so impactful for me,” she continued. “My purpose goes beyond myself. If I can connect with people and take the first steps toward contributing to meaningful change, I feel like that in itself is a success.” 

Dodoo will share her story at the annual Schwartz Fellow Symposium on Nov. 1 in the HUB-Robeson Center. 

Applications to be the next Schwartz Fellow are being accepted through Feb. 1, 2025. Interested students should visit the Schwartz Fellows website for more information.