Alumni from the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) and the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) programs participated in a full day professional development program on Saturday, October 3rd at the Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters. Seasoned professionals shared with alumni how to best market their international experiences as they start or build on their professional careers.
President of American Councils Dr. Dan E. Davidson and Department of State's Division Chief of Citizen Exchanges at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Rene Hadjigeorgalis shared how the CLS and NSLI-Y language immersion programs began and the types of professional roles that alumni could fill with their language skills and overseas experience.
Senior staff from Booz Allen Hamilton shared how their own international experiences shaped their career paths while program alumni discussed the opportunities and challenges they have faced in developing careers that utilized their critical language skills. CLS and NSLI-Y alumni had the opportunity to network with professionals from the State Department, Booz Allen Hamilton, and American Councils at this event sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton and the US Department of State.
About the Critical Language Scholarship Program
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully-funded overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides study opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning.
About the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Program
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the US Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.
NSLI-Y is part of a US government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad.