International Affairs Masters student Jordan Sturgis has been awarded two prestigious fellowships for the upcoming year: a Boren Fellowship and a State Department Title VIII Fellowship. Boren Fellowships provide graduate students the opportunity to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency, with a maximum award of $30,000. The Title VIII Program, administered by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, provides funding for research and language training to American scholars and students for the study of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Jordan will be studying Farsi and Tajik intensively with supplementary Russian language studies at the Eurasian Regional Language Program in Dushanbe, Tajikistan for nine months. He will live with a Tajik host family and speak exclusively in Farsi, Tajik and Russian to immerse himself in the languages and culture. He hopes to be proficient in both languages at a professional level upon completion of his language program.

Jordan will also be conducting research on energy politics in the region during his time in Tajikistan. “Energy security, specifically issues related to oil and gas, has been my overwhelming area of interest as a master's student in the Nunn School,” he says. He plans on examining the effects of sanctions on Iranian oil wealth and illicit transport networks. Jordan hopes that his increased language proficiency in Farsi and Tajik will help him when translating Iranian media and interviews.

Congratulations to Jordan! We are incredibly proud of your fantastic accomplishments and know that your experience with the Boren and the State Department will be professionally and personally rewarding.