Two McCormack PhD Students Earn Boren Fellowships to Study Languages Abroad

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Boren Fellowship Winners in the Global Governance and Human Security PhD ProgramPolly Cegielski and Linda Holcombe, both PhD students in the McCormack Graduate School, have received Boren Fellowships to study languages abroad. Cegielski is going to Tajikistan to study Pashto and Holcombe is going to Uganda to study Swahili.

The students’ work will be supported by the National Security Education Program. which funds U.S. college students who wish to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in studies abroad.

Cegielski is focusing on critical military studies in the Global Governance and Human Security PhD Program. She did two tours in Afghanistan as a Department of Defense civilian and one tour as a military contractor.

“The Afghan people really inspired me, especially working with the women there,” Cegielski said. “What they have to deal with every day and then still be able to put a positive face on, whether it’s family members being killed or persecuted by their own people because of how they segregate women, and yet they are still able to rise above, is incredibly inspiring.”

Cegielski’s dissertation work focuses on security forces in Afghanistan, where Pashto is one of the official languages. The Boren Fellowship will allow Cegielski to develop her Pashto skills and speak with Afghan security forces as she completes her dissertation--giving her greater credibility as a subject matter expert on Southeast Asia and preparing her for a potential job in the State Department or at the United Nations.

“I am incredibly grateful and feel amazingly blessed,” Cegielski said. She also said she couldn’t have completed her application without the support of the Office of Global Programs, the Office of Fellowship Advising and Interim Fellowships Advisor Eve Sorum, and the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance.

“For anyone seeking a fellowship, ...

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