Michael Golomb

FLAS Fellow
Michael Golomb

About

Michael Golomb is a recipient of the Academic Year 2014-2015 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The award provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with financial support to develop fluency in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and expertise in the regions in which these languages are spoken. Every year the Center for Global Studies awards between 12-15 fellowships to UW students. Click here to learn more.

As an Honors student in the Jackson School’s International Studies program, I have been researching and writing a thesis on the relationship between Kenya’s social, political, and media spheres as they relate to Kenya’s 2007-2008 and 2013 elections.  The FLAS Academic Year Fellowship has allowed me to pursue not only the complexities of the Swahili language, but its cultural context in East Africa as well.  As some components of my data are in Swahili, this fellowship has provided me with the support I need to complete my thesis.  In addition, the language skills I’ve acquired through FLAS are an invaluable part of the skillset I’ll employ post-graduation as my career develops.