Fellowship Spotlight: Julia Ricciardulli
Meet Julia Ricciardulli
Graduation Date: December 2019
Majors or Areas of Study: International Affairs, Economics, Political Science
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Community & Campus Involvement: I currently serve on the Student Government Association’s Policy Research Board. Additionally, I am a disk jockey at WUOG 90.5FM and the Political and Economic Correspondent for the Athens Journal.
Interesting fact about yourself? I’m from Argentina and my family spans four continents.
What interested you most about the Spencer Frye Fellowship Program? The opportunity to make a lasting and legitimate impact while getting to work with someone who legitimately cares about the future of Athens and Georgia.
What is your current role on the Spencer Frye team? Legislative Fellow
What have you learned so far as a fellow? I’ve learned about the importance of showing up. Whether this is visiting local nonprofits or going to community events, the very small act of showing up could mean the world and enables you to learn about the real people and issues in our community.
What has been your favorite experience as a fellow? I really enjoyed working at the Habitat for Humanity home site. I got to spend a lot of meaningful time getting dirty and sweaty with my fellow fellows.
What are your future goals? My main interest is policy, so I hope that whatever path I go down in life I hope that I am still somehow involved in the policy process.
What do you love most about Athens? I love the sense of community and culture in Athens. My favorite thing in the world is being able to walk around downtown on any given night and having the opportunity to see amazing artists and meet so many interesting people. More than that, I love the passion and love that Athenians have for their home, it is perhaps the most encouraging and heartfelt thing to witness.
Favorite place in Athens, Georgia? I love to study in the Founder’s Garden on campus when it’s warm and quiet. However, my favorite spot in Athens has to be the Caledonia Lounge.
What are your hobbies outside of school and the Fellowship program? I really like listening to new music and trying (my hardest) to cook. Aside from this I’m a news junkie, so I really like reading everything from opinion pieces to the newest studies.
What is the last book you read? Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Coffee or tea? I love them both for very different reasons, but I will always be a coffee girl at heart.
Describe your dream job. I’m not sure exactly what I want to do in the future, but as long as I’m learning something new everyday and making a meaningful impact I’d be happy.
What has been your greatest experience during your college career? I think the greatest experience of my college career so far was this past election day, when all of the Athens Journal team was holed up in the radio station booth reporting on the election as it happened. There was a real sense of community and it’s so great to be surrounded by people who are passionate and caring.
If you know that you would not fail, what would you do? Buy a lottery ticket.
Why are you interested in politics? I’m infinitely interested about the impact that we can make as individuals and as a community on our society. For so long, history has been dominated by authoritarian governments and the people have so little autonomy and rights. We live right now in the best era for personal and individual freedoms, and the fact that we can use those and make some kind of lasting impact on something as big and as institutional as our government that affects countless people never fails to blow me away.
Favorite quote. “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” -Rene Descartes