Calista Boyd, UT political science PhD student, won a Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) Fellowship to study Arabic in Jordan for the academic year. She is studying both Levantine Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic at the Qasid Arabic Institute, located in Amman, Jordan.

In addition to classes, CASA fellows must show commitment to service through a volunteer internship in the spring semester to further their immersive efforts. In her free time, Boyd has volunteered with the American Center of Research on their Abdoun Community Archaeology Project and with the non-profit Squashdreamers, helping young Syrian refugee and underprivileged Jordanian girls excel in their studies. 

In the spring semester for her internship, Boyd will be volunteering at Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, which is an independent think-tank that conducts research and explorative and survey-based studies to produce reports and policy papers. Boyd also has accepted a paid student internship with the State Department working on Near Eastern Affairs for the summer of 2024 and is awaiting her assignment. 

CASA fellowships are awarded through a skills and merit-based, national competition where applicants distinguish themselves through Arabic language, academic excellence, career goals, and commitment to public service. The fellowship is awarded to US graduates and graduate students who are advanced Arabic students and are planning careers that require advanced Arabic proficiency in fields such as academia, government, or international development.