Department of World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures is pleased to announce that Honors College Student and CLASS member Rachel Shafer has been named a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholar. She will study this summer at the Arab-American Language Institute in Meknes, Morocco. Rachel is majoring in International Studies, with concentrations in the Middle East & Africa, and Security & Diplomacy. She is minoring in Arabic. Rachel's CLS status brings added distinction to herself, to the Honors College, to CLASS, and to the professors within her colleges, departments, concentrations, and minor field of study.

Rachel received comprehensive recommendations from Dr. Caroline Najour (World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) and Dr. Nancy Stockdale (History). She also benefited from the counsel of Dr. Kate Imy (History), who was herself a CLS winner. We are fortunate to have such outstanding students and highly supportive faculty members.