Ashley Parow, a political science and history double major at the University of South
Florida (USF), was recently selected for the Critical Language Scholarship Program
(CLS). Parow is also a student in the Judy Genshaft Honors College and minors in homeland
security and emergency management. During the CLS program this summer, she will spend
ten weeks intensively studying Arabic in Jordan by lodging with a local family, attending
classes, and engaging with surrounding communities.
The CLS Program supports both undergraduate and graduate students studying languages
critical to U.S. national security. Participants spend the summer at one of their
19 sites abroad, taking a pledge not to speak any English for full immersion. CLS
offers 12 languages including Chinese, Russian, and Swahili. They also offer several
virtual language study programs.
Engaged Leading and Learning
Parow chose to study Arabic because of her work within refugee communities and human
trafficking. As a member of the UN Millennium Fellowship Class of 2024, Parow founded
and leads a student organization dedicated to combating human trafficking in Tampa
through prevention education. Millennium Fellows are charged with implementing projects
that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Ashley chose Goal 16
鈥� Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. This goal aims to make all humans feel
safe and free from violence. She has also worked as a Student Research Assistant for
the Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Risk and Resilience Lab, where she assisted in projects
focused on human trafficking prevention and intervention strategies.
Continuing to learn and journey beyond her comfort zone, Parow is looking forward
to the once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience provided by the Critical Language Scholarship
Program.
鈥淚 chose to learn Arabic because for me, language is not just about speaking, rather language is about understanding human beings and culture on a deeper level. I believe it is extremely difficult to work with or within communities if one doesn鈥檛 take the time to understand the language and the values tied to it,鈥� said Parow. 鈥淭his is why CLS is such an incredible opportunity. I鈥檓 excited to learn from the Jordanian community outside of a classroom setting.鈥�
During her time in Jordan, Parow can also draw from her internship experiences, which have focused on government affairs and public policy. At the Council of American Islamic Affairs, she assisted in researching and analyzing local policies and regulations for economic development and participated in meetings, hearings, and community events to observe and learn about local governance processes. During her internship at the City of Lakeland, she collaborated with departmental staff to develop strategies for addressing community needs and concerns.
A Future in International Relations
After her completion of the CLS Program, Parow will continue her Arabic language studies through advanced coursework at USF focusing on specialized topics in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) studies. She will continue to connect with Muslim Americans and native speakers from the MENA region. These ongoing efforts will continue to refine her language skills and foster connections within Arabic-speaking communities, allowing her to significantly contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding across cultures.
Parow plans to attend graduate school but will first apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to teach English abroad after graduating from USF. She plans to pursue a career in international relations and human rights.
91麻豆天美 can visit the USF Office of National Scholars website for more information about the .