Rice University graduate student Angel Smith will get some extra help mastering Arabic thanks to a coveted scholarship from the Department of State and the prestigious Boren Fellowship.
Angel Smith. Photo by Jeff Fitlow.
Just 10% of applicants for the Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship are accepted. The program, known for its rigor, usually takes place abroad but it will be a virtual experience for Smith this summer due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And in the fall, Smith will continue her Arabic studies for a year in Morocco on a Boren Fellowship.
“Angel is intellectually gifted, highly motivated and exceptionally hardworking," said Mark Jones, faculty director for the Master of Global Affairs (MGA) program at Rice and the Joseph D. Jamail Professor in Latin American Studies. "Only the very best applicants receive the State Department’s Critical Language Fellowships, and only the truly exceptional are awarded Boren Fellowships. The fact that Angel received both of these coveted awards in the same year speaks volumes about her myriad strengths and abilities."
Smith, who just completed her first year of study in the MGA program, began studying Arabic as an undergraduate in Colorado State University's international studies program. Students were required to focus on a region and accompanying language.
"I found their Asian studies and Middle East/North Africa studies programs appealing, so initially I was torn between Japanese and Arabic," she said. "After visiting a museum in (Washington) D.C. and seeing the ways in which Arabic script was used to create beautiful artwork, I knew that Arabic was for me."
As an undergraduate Gilman Scholar, she studied the language abroad in Amman. Smith has continued taking Arabic courses at Rice through the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication, and she expects them to help her tremendously over the next year. She was attracted to the MGA program because of the prestige of Rice and the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
"Their reputations speak for themselves and are the reason why I began to research the MGA program," she said. "I was most impressed by the caliber of the instructors. I also thought that the additional benefits students received, such as membership to Roundtable Young Professionals and access to Baker Institute events and staff, would serve me well."
Smith said the MGA program has helped her build on her existing knowledge of international relations while sharpening her communication and critical thinking skills.
"Before entering the program, I already had a pretty good understanding of geopolitics, but I still feel like the program has helped me articulate my thoughts in a more clear and concise manner," she said.
"My professors all have such inspiring backgrounds and are so knowledgeable, and they, along with my courses, have helped me build upon my existing knowledge of political theory, crafting statehood and foreign relations," she continued. "They have also allowed me to strengthen my analytical skills by exposing me to literature regarding cybersecurity, outer space security and global risks. And my classmates are also very knowledgeable and have had an array of personal and professional experiences, so it has been amazing to engage with them."
Smith said she especially appreciates the strategic career development provided by the MGA program. In the future, she’s interested in exploring how Sino-Arab relations affect U.S. trade and counterterrorism partnerships in the region.
After she graduates in 2023, Smith — who also has a passion for blogging about food and travel — would like to move abroad and continue her research while sharing her experiences with others.
"My hope is that while I am exploring the answers to these questions, I can also record my travels," she said. "I grew up in a neighborhood where many people do not have access to travel. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to explore my interests, and I want to make the world accessible to those who do not have the opportunity to physically explore it. I truly believe providing people with the ability to explore the world — even virtually — helps make it seem less scary and increases how connected we feel to each other."
"We could not be more proud of her impressive achievements thus far," Jones said. "We eagerly look forward to watching her global career blossom in the years ahead."
More information on Rice's MGA program is available online at https://mga.rice.edu.