Political Science student Kuranda Ruggiero has been awarded three competitive awards to support a semester of intensive language study in Tajikistan: the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the Gilman Critical Need Language Award, and the Dan E. Davidson Fellowship from the American Councils for International Education.
The awards will support Ruggiero’s participation in the Eurasian Regional Language Program in Dushanbe, Tajikistan during the upcoming Fall 2026 semester. Through the program, Ruggiero will study Farsi through advanced coursework in conversation, grammar, and Eurasian history and culture while living in an immersive Persian-speaking environment.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a congressionally funded program for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that provides merit-based funding to undergraduate students pursuing academic study and internships abroad. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, Ruggiero was also selected to receive the Gilman Critical Need Language Award, which provides additional support for students studying languages identified as critical to U.S. interests. Farsi is considered a critical language because of its importance to U.S. diplomacy, national security, and engagement with strategically significant regions of the world.
Ruggiero also received the Dan E. Davidson Fellowship from the American Councils for International Education. Established in honor of the organization’s founder and President Emeritus, the fellowship supports students pursuing language study and area studies coursework in regions of strategic economic, political, and social importance. Recipients are selected for their academic promise, commitment to international education, and potential to foster greater understanding across cultures.
For Ruggiero, the opportunity represents the continuation of a growing interest in Persian language and culture. After completing one year of Persian-language study, she sought an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and develop her language skills through daily immersion. Living and studying in Tajikistan will provide the chance to engage directly with local communities, strengthen linguistic proficiency, and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Central Asia.
“I am most excited about being completely immersed in a new culture and increasing my proficiency in Farsi,” said Ruggiero. “Tajikistan is a unique and beautiful country, and I am greatly looking forward to experiencing it for a semester. I’m very grateful to the American Councils and the Gilman Program for providing funding that allows me to have this opportunity.”
Beyond the academic benefits, the experience will provide Ruggiero with firsthand exposure to a region of growing geopolitical importance and a deeper understanding of the cultural, historical, and political dynamics of Central Asia. Intensive language study and cultural immersion programs such as the Eurasian Regional Language Program help students develop the cross-cultural communication skills, regional expertise, and global perspective that are increasingly important in fields ranging from public service and international affairs to research and diplomacy.
As Ruggiero prepares for her departure for Tajikistan this August, the awards recognize both her past academic achievements and future potential. The opportunity will allow her to deepen her understanding of the Persian-speaking world while representing the University of Rhode Island abroad and building skills that will support future academic and professional pursuits.