Madison Wilson ’26 Awarded Critical Language Scholarship

Madison Wilson ’26 has been selected as a 2026 recipient of a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), earning a fully funded opportunity to study Swahili this summer in the Tanzanian city of Arusha. 

Hosted by the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation, the program offers an intensive, immersive experience that combines language coursework, cultural exchange and community engagement. Wilson will live with a host family, participate in site visits with local organizations and complete a final research project while building her Swahili proficiency. The CLS experience will directly support her career interests in public policy and international development, with a focus on positioning communities as decision-makers. 

A sociology and anthropology double major, Wilson has spent her time at Pitzer pursuing cross-cultural learning and community-based research through the college’s study abroad programs in Nepal and Southern Africa (and solo traveling through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand). She describes herself as having an innate curiosity for understanding global cultures, a passion that began early and ultimately has shaped her academic path. 

“I would consider myself something of a world traveler. I definitely caught the travel bug,” she said.  

Her interest in learning Swahili is rooted in relationships she formed while working with a grassroots women’s organization in Uganda, where language barriers made sustained collaboration difficult. 

“We've since kept in contact, but communication is incredibly difficult because of the language barrier. I've been wanting to work with them for years, so I've been trying to develop the language skill to do so,” she said.  

Wilson also emphasized how her time at Pitzer — and the college’s strong emphasis on study abroad — helped prepare her for this opportunity.

“The best use of my time in college has been studying abroad in immersive programs,” she said. “It’s shaped how I think about the world and the kind of impact I want to have.” 

She credits Director of Fellowships Noosha Malek, Ed.D., for her guidance throughout the competitive application process. 

“She’s incredibly supportive and helps you understand what these programs are really looking for,” Wilson said. “That made a huge difference.” 

Looking ahead, Wilson plans to pursue a Ph.D. in public policy focused on international development, with an emphasis on community-centered approaches. 

“CLS will form a foundation for this trajectory,” she said, “grounding my work in lived experience and helping me support more equitable, community-led solutions.”