EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Second-year Presidential Scholar Rowan Moxley – who plans to pursue the BS/MS combined program in quantitative economics – was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Chinese at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan during the summer of 2024. The CLS program receives approximately 5,500 applications annually from across the country and only 500 of those applicants receive the scholarship. 

The CLS program offers American college students the opportunity to study up to thirteen different languages and experience various cultures for eight to ten weeks at a study-abroad institution. The program is designed to promote intercultural fluency. 

Moxley has been studying Chinese for many years and received a similar scholarship before he entered EMU as a senior in high school to spend the summer of 2022 in Taiwan. He was fascinated by the language and how it deviated from the traditional French and Spanish linguistic patterns. 

“My language-learning journey and career goals came into alignment. CLS offered a great way to travel to Taiwan, make connections with Chinese-speaking professionals at the university level, and become increasingly proficient in Mandarin Chinese,” states Moxley. 

Moxley stresses the importance of fostering cross-cultural communication as global tensions continue to rise. He mentions his progression in learning Chinese and how it will enhance his economic skills in the future. 

“After earning my degrees at EMU, I intend to pursue a Ph.D. in economics and then become a research econometrician at the Federal Reserve. Speaking Chinese will be one of the most useful skills going into my future. In both speaking Chinese and having connections and cultural experience in a Chinese-speaking nation, I bring a level of expertise that any firm dealing with Chinese issues of American concern would value. Being a Chinese-speaking econometrician with a Ph.D. positions me as a prime candidate to research monetary policy in China and its impact throughout the world.” 

 Dr. Ann Eisenberg, Dean of The Honors College, encouraged Moxley to apply for the Critical Language Scholarship. 

“When Rowan interviewed for the Presidential Scholarship in February of 2021, his commitment to global learning and mastery of proficiency in Chinese were key elements that impressed the interview committee. I wanted Rowan to attend EMU because I thought he would make important contributions to the EMU community. Since EMU does not offer high-level classes in Chinese, I promised to support him in his pursuit of the CLS so that he could take advantage of the opportunities EMU  offers – particularly, the combined B.S./M.S. program in quantitative economics – without sacrificing his fluency in Chinese.”

To learn more about the Critical Language Scholarship, contact Dr. Eisenberg in The Honors College or visit https://clscholarship.org/.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.