Alexandra Chen awarded 2017 George G. Booth Traveling Fellowship

Alexandra Chen (M.Arch.’15) has been named the 2017 George G. Booth Traveling Fellow. The award was announced at the Taubman College Commencement Ceremony on April 30, 2017. Her research project, “FORTIFIED; The Living Tradition of Prehistoric Ohingi” was selected by the jury, associate professor Malcolm McCullough and assistant professor Tsz Yan Ng, who stated that “Among the many strong applicants with distinguished careers since Taubman College, Alexandra Chen offered the best combination of unusual and credible in a proposal. Chen’s  travels to study Kenyan ohingi (ancient fortresses) will pick up on her past work in the Peace Corps and provide Taubman College with a small step toward more engagement in Africa.” 

Chen will explore various prehistoric sites of Kenyan ohingi and the provocative contradiction between their enigmatic origins and their established construction techniques. To examine this circumstance, this project will explore the remaining ohingi ruins, document existing conditions and conduct local interviews. In addition, Chen will consult with local masons to study the technique of dry stone stacking and seek participation in an active reconstruction site. Ancillary information will be provided from visits to museums and with local academic experts.

For more information on Chen’s proposal, previous winners and eligibility for application, please visit the George G. Booth Traveling Fellowship page.