Triple CHESS major Annabelle Hill named UNC Charlotte’s first Marshall Scholarship finalist
Annabelle Hill, a senior in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, is UNC Charlotte’s first finalist for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.
Founded in 1953, Marshall Scholarships provide full funding for fifty American undergraduates to pursue postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom each year. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission selects talented, independent and wide-ranging scholars looking for an opportunity to advance their intellectual and personal growth through further education.
As a triple major in political science, French and international studies with a concentration in peace, conflict and identity, Hill’s academic and personal interests center on international policy and humanitarian work, specifically migration.
“My commitment to migrants and migration is really a commitment to my neighbors,” Hill said. “Migrants are an incredibly valuable part of our community here in Charlotte and around the world. That goes for all sectors — economically, in terms of their talent and skills — but more than anything, their humanity and the value they have as humans within our society.”
Campus Involvement and Work Experience
Hill is a Levine Scholar and a member of the Honors College, and is deeply involved in campus organizations including Model United Nations, the Charlotte Global Studies Organization, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha and Phi Beta Delta.
She gained hands-on experience working with the UNC Charlotte Center for Migration and Diaspora Studies, the UNC Charlotte Office of Global Learning (formerly the Office of Global Education and Engagement) and the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency, as well as international organizations including the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, the International Rescue Committee and Church World Service.
Study Abroad
Hill has previously studied abroad four times, spending a semester in Pau, France, a summer in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a summer in Santander, Spain and travelling to the Philippines as part of Charlotte’s delegation for the Harvard World Model UN conference in Manila.
Additional Awards
In February 2025, Hill was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, which recognizes scholars with promising academic potential, outstanding leadership and a commitment to public service.
The UNC Charlotte Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) selected Hill for the Scholarly Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG) Program in October 2025, granting funding for her proposal, “Understanding the Impacts of U.S. Deportation Policy on the Quality of Governance in Latin American Countries of Origin.” As part of her Honors thesis, the grant will fund her travel to Mexico to conduct interviews.
To wrap up a successful year, Hill received a Student International Education Award in November 2025, which recognizes outstanding contributions to and involvement in international programs and studies at UNC Charlotte.
The award was presented at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Annual International Education Awards in the Halton Reading Room in Atkins Library. Sponsored by Charlotte Global, formerly the Office of International Programs, Hill received a plaque of recognition and a $500 monetary award.
Future Plans
After graduating from UNC Charlotte, Hill plans to pursue graduate degrees in migration studies and public policy, aiming for a future role in policy and advocacy that supports migrants worldwide.
“I believe that by centering the people who are living the experience of migration within our policy and research, we can create a better system,” said Hill. “One that’s more humane for everyone and that helps our cities and countries move forward in a more prosperous way for both migrants and broader communities.”