The Boren Fellowship is an initiative of the National Security Education Program and provides “unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.” Those chosen for the fellowship have a desire to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
SPP is proud to announce that MPP candidate JaKyah Beatty has received this fellowship and intends to use the funds to study Swahili in Tanzania. Beatty is highly interested in international development and has centered much of her research on the impacts and influences of outsourcing. She put this research to practice while working in Uganda, where she worked for social enterprises and community organizations centered on local women’s economic empowerment.
Beatty is also a Robertson Fellow. This program supports incoming MPP students committed to working in national security and international policy through full tuition, a stipend and summer internship experience. Through both fellowships, Beatty intends to grow as an expert in international gender and labor laws associated with outsourcing and manufacturing as well as policy reform for global sustainability standards across multiple industries.
“I am excited to participate in the Boren Critical Language Fellowship in Ashura, Tanzania,” said Beatty. “Learning Swahili in Tanzania will be a great next step in my academic and professional path. Not only will I be able to broaden my knowledge, but I will also help pave a way for other students of color who are interested in international affairs, a field that we are typically not in.”