Student Profile: Morgannn Ross

Morgann Ross Named 2008 Watson Fellowship Winner

Political science major Morgann Ross, C'2008, has been named a Watson Fellowship winner for 2008-2009. The only HBCU student chosen among this year's fellows, Ross received the national postgraduate fellowship for her project, "On Pointe: Curves, Color and Colonialism."

As part of her fellowship, Ross will travel to the United Kingdom, South Africa, Bermuda, France, Guadelopue, and Senegal. Her project will explore if the traditional ballerina body images affect ballerina women of color internationally. By studying ballet in former European colonies in Africa and the West Indies, Ross also seeks to learn if the different company's methods mimic European colonizers, or if there has been a transformation of traditional ballet and the ballet image for aesthetic and cultural purposes.

Ross has always been actively involved in ballet and currently teaches ballet to three through five year olds in the Spelman College Drama and Dance program.
A Women of Excellence and Leadership series graduate, C' 2006, Ross currently serves as the Secretary of Academic Affairs with the Spelman Student Government Association.

Not only is she active within the Spelman Community, but she also is on the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters- Atlanta Fulton County Chapter; and she is completing an internship in which she worked as a Legislative Aide for Representative Stacey Abrams of District 84.

Ross plans to join Teach For America following her Watson Fellowship experience. The Watson Fellowship program awards travel grants to fellows, giving them the opportunity to engage in a year of independent study and travel abroad following graduation.