Since she was a small child, Johanna Leffler has been studying French. Her journey began in kindergarten when she was enrolled in a French immersion program. Later on, she took AP and IB French courses in high school. As such, it seemed only natural for her to perfect her linguistic capabilities in college. After URI offered her a generous scholarship, Leffler took Little Rhody into deeper consideration, making the journey from her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland, to Kingston for an admitted student day. “I felt so welcomed by the URI students and community that I could really see my home here for the next four years,” Leffler states.

Upon arrival at URI, Leffler initially double majored in French and Political Science while on the International Politics route. It was then that opportunity struck: the new International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD) program. Implemented in Fall 2018, it is a dual major program run through URI’s Political Science department, allowing students to pair a major in International Studies with one of five foreign languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, or Spanish). Leffler quickly made the switch, explaining, “It was the perfect fit because it prepares students to go into fields of diplomacy and international work, which is exactly what I wanted to do.” She explains her love for the program’s synergistic methods: “I really enjoy how almost every semester, key themes across my classes intersect with each other,” she states, “I take classes from multiple disciplines for my program, such as political science, economics, history, and anthropology, so it’s really cool to see that interconnectedness.”

Earlier this month, Leffler was named a Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows and awarded a grant to study French in Rennes, France at the Institute of Political Studies over the 2019-2020 academic year. As for the future, Leffler looks forward to graduating in 2021 with a B.A. in International Studies and a B.A. in French. After graduation, she plans to pursue an accelerated master’s degree to earn her M.A. in International Relations and eventually join the Foreign Service or apply to law school. When asked about advice for new students, Leffler emphasizes the importance of seeking out mentors, stating: “In terms of academics, something I would really stress for first-year students is to really utilize academic advising. Your advisors make sure that you are on the right track, and they can also suggest how to explore more within your field or maybe even add a minor. I would also advise students to get involved and enjoy college because there are so many opportunities here!”

~ Written by Chase Hoffman ’21, Writing & Rhetoric and Anthropology Double Major