Jack McCarthy, from Princeton, New Jersey, set up the Patrick Devine Bursary to commemorate the life of his great grandfather, Patrick Devine.

The Bursary is awarded to one student on the Masters Degree Programme in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast in the 2025-26 cohort and includes a monetary award of £11,000 as well as office space at the Mitchell Institute for the student for the duration of their studies.

Chantelle Annan is the recipient of this year’s Patrick Devine Bursary.  Her academic background lies in political science, governance, and civic engagement, reflecting her commitment to inclusive development and transformative justice.  Her research explores the intersection of conflict and migration, focusing on how refugee and asylum-seeking experiences are shaped by human rights discourses, immigration policies, and notions of belonging.  She is particularly interested in how displacement and resettlement processes reproduce or resist social injustice, and how migrant narratives can inform more humane and inclusive policymaking.

Commenting on the background to the Bursary, Jack said:

“Some people walk down Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey and think about its history going back to revolutionary times.  But when I pass Charlton and Nassau Streets, I always remember my great grandfather Patrick Devine.  Born in the small village of Beragh in County Tyrone, he emigrated, penniless, to the United States in the 1870s. He joined his sister and her husband in Princeton.  

Through his family’s hard work and willingness to take risks, the Devine clan acquired three properties in the center of town. Patrick operated the family’s grocery store on the corner of Nassau and Charlton until his death in 1925. The other two properties are still owned by his great-grandchildren - over 140 years in the same family.”

Commenting on the Bursary, the Mitchell Institute Interim Director, Professor Louise Mallinder, said:

“We are delighted to continue the Patrick Devine Bursary Programme and to welcome this year’s recipient, Chantelle Annan, to the Mitchell Institute.  

Supporting students on the MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice is a vital part of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders dedicated to building more peaceful and just societies.  We are grateful to Jack McCarthy for his continued support for this programme.”

The 2025-26 Patrick Devine Bursary recipient, Chantelle Annan said:

“I want to sincerely thank the generous donor for this remarkable initiative and for their thoughtful commitment to the wellbeing of students here at Queen’s and the Mitchell Institute.

Receiving this bursary has lightened my academic and financial journey and has inspired me to dream bigger than I ever imagined.  I applied with only a leap of faith, and being selected reminded me that no matter where you are from, believing in yourself can open incredible doors.

This award has encouraged me to trust more deeply in my abilities and to aim higher and together with the warm welcome from the staff and faculty at the Mitchell Institute, this support has helped me settle in comfortably, with confidence, and give off my very best, both academically and socially.