May 2019
Jacob Lockledge
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity); minor, General Philosophy ’17
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI
University of Michigan Affiliations: Amnesty International, Michigan Journal of International Affairs
“I began studying Swahili as a freshman, before declaring my major as International Studies my sophomore year. As I took more classes related to Sub-Saharan African history and current issues, I knew I wanted my path after graduation to expound on those studies and relate specifically to a human rights approach to development. During a discussion section for my INTLSTD 101: “Introduction to International Studies” course, I met a former University of Michigan graduate who introduced me to an internship opportunity in Uganda working with a small NGO. Thanks to my education through the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS), I was able to bolster my academic experience with relevant professional opportunities.
After graduating, I was fortunate enough to utilize the knowledge and perspectives I gained as an International Studies major to complete a Princeton in Africa (PiAf) fellowship. As a PiAf fellow, I worked with Population Services International (PSI) in Tanzania to manage the development of a series of apps designed to bring effective reproductive health counseling and services closer to Tanzanian women. My academic career at the University of Michigan constantly informed my work with PSI–helping to contextualize my projects and think critically about their long-term impact. I'm looking to pursue a Masters of Arts in International Relations moving forward, using the network and interests I fostered with PICS. I cannot recommend the International Studies major enough to anyone interested in a well-rounded approach to international affairs and a flexible education catering toward your specific interests.”
