A recipient of the Boren Award -- an initiative of the U.S. government and part of the National Security Education Program, intended to further the study of critical languages -- Courtney Johnson (B.A. Strategic Communications & History of Art, anticipated graduation December 2018) will be taking part in the South Asian Flagship Language Initiative, studying Hindi at the University of Wisconsin from June through August, and then continuing at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Jaipur for the fall semester 2017. Her time in the program will include cultural education and local excursions, but is primarily focused on learning Hindi. She also intends to volunteer at a local women’s advocacy shelter while in India.

After leaving the American Institute of Indian Studies, Courtney will spend spring semester 2018 in Varanasi with the University of Wisconsin, continuing her cultural and language studies, in addition to conducting an independent research project -- likely examining art in the British Raj.