Tianni Carson Returns to Ireland to attend UCD’s Smurfit Business School
by Mary Hendriksen
September 1, 2026
Tianni Carson, a Summer 2024 Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Intern, returns to Ireland this fall to attend University College Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School under a partnership facilitated by AAIDN between Howard University and University College Dublin. Under this partnership, UCD’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School provides up to two scholarships per year to Howard University graduates.
“Never have I felt that much happiness in my life,” says Tianni Carson, a May 2026 health management graduate of Howard University, as she reflects on her time in Ireland in the summer of 2024.
The Frederick Douglass Daniel O’Connell Global Internship program is a centerpiece of AAIDN’s educational initiatives. Jointly sponsored by AAIDN, the Council for International Education Exchange (CIEE), the John and Lillan Miles Lewis Foundation, and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, it provides a two-month summer work internship to a diverse group of American college students.
Tianni’s placement was with Elkstone Partners, based in Dublin. Tianni supported the venture capital team in analyzing and researching startups, streamlined the data management process, and engaged in due diligence calls and market analysis.
“All this,” she says, “gave me a better understanding of how investment decisions are made and helped me improve my research, communication, and analytical skills.”
Plus, she joined the other Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell interns in lectures, networking events, and tours in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast.
“Overall, “ Tianni continues, “my time in Ireland gave me a broader perspective on international business and helped me grow both professionally and personally. It was an experience that encouraged me to continue pursuing opportunities abroad and played a big role in shaping my future academic and career goals.”
This fall, Tianni is taking a big step towards reaching those goals. She is entering University College Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School through the scholarship program between Howard University and the Smurfit School partnership facilitated by AAIDN in 2023.
Tianni is beyond thrilled to return to Ireland.
“Even during my first visit to Ireland for my summer 2024 internship, something about it felt familiar. It felt like home. Not only did I feel safe, but I also felt like I truly fit in. A big part of that was the friendliness and genuine curiosity of the Irish people, who always made me feel welcomed.”
The scholarship provides half of tuition fees in the Smurfit School’s full-time, one-year business masters’ degree program to a graduate of Howard University.
In addition to its significant monetary benefit, scholarship recipients gain the unique advantage of studying abroad at one of Europe’s leading business schools. UCD Smurfit School is located in the heart of Dublin, a global hub of business that is home to top multinational companies, many in finance, technology, pharmaceuticals, and social media.
As Tianni looks forward to her return to Ireland, she has some wise words for other young people: “My biggest piece of advice would be: ‘Do not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.’ I have seen what it looks like to stay stuck in a constant cycle of familiarity, but I have also experienced the value that comes from taking a leap. Some of the best experiences and opportunities can come from simply being willing to step into the unknown.”
MORE about the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program
In partnership with CIEE (Council for International Education Exchange), the John and Lillan Miles Lewis Foundation, and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program provides a variety of two-month summer work internships for a diverse group of American college students.
Applications for Summer 2027 will open later this month. More information on the program can be found here.
MORE about the University College Dublin-AAIDN scholarship at the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
The scholarship is one very tangible result of an initiative in 2023 which brought 12 Howard University School of Business students on a visit to Dublin, and 19 students from University College Dublin’s Smurfit School and Quinn School on a visit to Washington, D.C. to focus on doing business in international markets, sustainable development goals, diversity and inclusion and cross-cultural learning.
In addition to University College Dublin and the African American Irish Diaspora Network, sponsors of those initial visits included the Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, KPMG, and Bank of America.
The scholarship unites two top universities.
Howard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the US and one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) in the country.
As one of Europe’s leading business schools, UCD Smurfit School provides a vibrant nexus of connectivity, flow, and interaction drawing on Ireland’s location as a gateway to Europe, culminating in relevant research and programs of study. Dublin’s place as a global hub of business and activity attracts the world’s leading multinational companies, including finance, tech, med tech, pharmaceuticals, and social media, to base their European headquarters in Ireland.