Aurora Lopez : Critical Language Scholarship

Aurora Lopez is a senior studying Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. In preparation for a career in foreign relations, she has taken courses outside her major to gain a better understanding of international cooperation, such as Gulf States, Spanish, and Arabic courses. She also interned for the British Consulate General, where she worked with international personnel in San Francisco. Currently, she’s interning with the Department of State, assisting Foreign Service Officers who wish to promote U.S. diplomacy around the globe. Overall, Aurora is interested in understanding the deeper nuances of diplomacy, particularly in the Middle East. She will be studying Arabic (remotely) in Tangier, Morocco. Already a Spanish speaker, Aurora understands how speaking a shared language creates unparalleled trust; thus, she hopes she can initiate these same genuine relationships in the Middle East with Arabic.