PSIA Alumnus & Boren Awardee Jordan Barrocas in Tanzania
Every academic year, the Boren Scholarship and Fellowship provides up to $25,000 for students to intensively study language and culture abroad. In exchange, students agree to work for the U.S. federal government for at least a year and receive mentoring upon their return to carry out this objective. In 2026, Cadet Jordan Barrocas (SSST ‘26) was one of six Boren awardees; He learned Swahili this past summer to study abroad in Tanzania this fall.
Jordan’s journey began in Gainesville, FL where he spent June and July participating in an intensive program designed to teach students with no knowledge of Swahili and bring them to a conversational level. He says, “It was challenging with many late nights and constant assessments to see how our written, oral, reading comprehension, and listening proficiency were progressing”. During this program, students also took courses on the culture of East Africa to familiarize themselves with the region’s religion, customs, practices, food, and daily life, all of which Jordan believes have given him a greater understanding of the language and this part of the world – “more so than a typical language program would provide”.
One of the most meaningful aspects of this experience was the connections Jordan got to make with other students from the program. Although they all came from different backgrounds, the students shared one goal that brought them closer together, reveling in excitement over their future time together in Africa. Jordan also praises how incredible faculty was throughout their program, from their support in speaking sessions to planned home visits on the weekends to learn more about African cooking. Jordan’s group has just recently arrived in Tanzania for the second part of their program, and so far, he says, “It has continued to be excellent. The staff, our host families, and the people of Tanzania have been welcoming as we continue our studies here”.
Jordan is a strong advocate for the Boren Scholarship, calling it an incredible opportunity to represent UNG abroad that will lead to development in all aspects of life. Specifically, the skills he has attained over these past few months will open many doors as he prepares himself to take on roles that require proficiency in Swahili or knowledge of East Africa. He will bring to the table a level of cultural competency that simply cannot be acquired without going abroad.
Jordan urges students who are interested in contributing to Boren's initiative to apply. “Closed mouths do not get fed”, he says, claiming that any student in the UNG PSIA Department is an excellent candidate for competitive scholarships due to UNG's emphasis on service, individualized instruction, and exceptionalism. He also stresses the importance of building relationships with faculty as they can open a world of educational and professional opportunities. For example, through the MLC and the PSIA Department, Jordan got to work with the Military Academy of Lithuania, the Naval Academy of Romania, and the Research Institute of European and American Studies in Athens, Greece. Jordan believes that with these accomplishments, and the unwavering support of UNG faculty such as Dr. Mienie, Dr. Hightower, and Dr. Beall, he became a more successful and competitive candidate for the Boren fellowship. He says, “Each of them poured into me and made me into the applicant who stood out during the Boren selection, so my advice would be to make sure you build those connections with your professors!”
When Jordan returns home after his program in Tanzania, he will attend graduate school at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he will pursue a Master of Science in International Security. He also looks forward to beginning his service as a Military Intelligence Officer and pursuing full-time employment with a government agency in Atlanta or in the private sector.