In the latest instalment of the University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to Abigail Hickman, a recent graduate of the MA in English at UL. Abigail shares the reasons why she chose to study at UL, what she enjoyed most about her course, and how studying at UL has given her the opportunity to claim her place in the long-standing history between Ireland and the Cherokee Nation.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. Through my father, I am also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. For high school, I majored in technical theatre at the Classen School of Advanced Studies. In 2021, I received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Columbia University. Between spring 2018 and 2021, I also served as political director and later president of the Columbia University Native American Council.
Why did you choose to study the MA in English at UL?
I attended UL through the Mitchell Scholarship Program offered by the US-Ireland Alliance. I wanted to study in Ireland because of the long-standing connection between Ireland and tribal nations in the United States. After the Trail of Tears, the Choctaw Nation donated tribal funds to support the Irish during the Potato Famine. Shortly before I applied to UL, I was inspired by the way that Native American and Irish people sought to recreate that moment at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to participate in that history myself by studying at UL to be an ambassador between the Republic of Ireland and the Cherokee Nation.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
I published my thesis, NDN Utopia, after studying under professors and taking courses in the Ralahine Centre for Utopian Studies, which is under the English department at UL. In my thesis, I explored the dialogic relationship between “I” and “You” as a proxy for the way indigenous artists struggle to express their identity in a world opposed to their existence. While I had already studied Native American issues at undergraduate level, I enjoyed being able to supplement my work with scholars in utopian and cultural memory studies, including a class on the transmission of cultural memory during the Holocaust.
Since there were only 10 or so students in my cohort, I also enjoyed being able to build a strong camaraderie and friendships with my classmates, which was a breath of fresh air after I experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as a Columbia junior and senior.
What did you enjoy about studying in Limerick?
Studying in Limerick was one of the best, most spiritually fulfilling experiences of my life. Limerick and Castletroy reminded me of my hometown of Norman in Oklahoma, which is also a college city. Whenever I got overwhelmed with work, I would clear my head by walking from campus to the city centre along the River Shannon. I also received incredible support from my fellow UL students, advisors and professors, as well as UL Global, who I have continued to rely on for help and support to this day.
How did UL support you throughout your studies?
I received frequent support from UL Global and other international student programmes. While I didn’t participate in the Erasmus Programme, I also appreciated the support I saw offered to other international students through that programme.
In terms of professors, I was frequently supported by Dr Yianna Liatsos, course director for the MA in English, as well as my thesis supervisor, Dr Jack Fennell from UL’s School of English, Irish and Communication.
Tell us about your career journey so far, and what you’re currently doing and why.
After graduating from UL, I worked on Joy Hofmeister’s 2022 campaign for governor of Oklahoma. Shortly thereafter, I worked on the re-election campaign of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. In Fall 2025, I will begin attending law school at either the University of Oklahoma or Tulsa University, with plans to focus on Native American and tribal law, education and business.
How did the MA in English at UL help you get to where you are now?
Since I received my bachelor’s degree in 2021, most of my senior and junior years were lost to COVID-19. I had originally planned to write a thesis but was unable to complete it due to personal issues related to having to relocate back to Oklahoma from New York because of the pandemic. By attending UL, I was able to make up for lost time, so to speak. If it wasn’t for UL, I would have never been able to tell my story or write the thesis that had inspired me throughout my undergraduate career.
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
After I receive my JD (juris doctor) from law school, I hope to remain in Oklahoma to practice law within the Cherokee Nation and Indian Country. On a personal level, I also hope to continue the vision of my thesis by supporting Native American students in education, as well as providing space for indigenous writers and artists.
What advice would you give to anyone considering studying at UL as an international student?
I would encourage any international student to “go deep” on the things that give them passion and see how UL and Ireland can support you in bringing the best version of that passion into the world.
The UL campus has walking trails built along the River Shannon. I would encourage any student that needs time or space to clear their heads to take a walk along the water, even if you accidentally find yourself walking all the way to the city centre. Western Ireland is also home to some of the most fantastic landscapes in Europe, including rivers and valleys that date back to the Ice Age.
UL is known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced while at UL?
During my time in Ireland, a friend and I took a trip to Donegal to walk Sliabh League. While I didn’t take the One Man's Path, it was during my walk along the mountain and sea cliffs that I finally began to write the first lines of what would become my thesis.
Here at UL, we encourage our students to ‘Stay Curious’. What keeps you curious?
I was inspired to get into my area of study when I was a child during the Oklahoma earthquake crisis (2009-present). My mother was also the public relations secretary for Sandy Garrett, a Cherokee Nation citizen and the last Democratic state superintendent of public education in Oklahoma. Seeing such horrible events happen in my state and community throughout my life - and nobody ever coming forward or being brought to justice for them - inspired me to always want to seek about the truth, even if it came with a cost.