Majors: Global Studies and Political Science Minors: Arabic and National Security Studies
Leslie Rojas (‘20) was staying with friends when she received the email. "My friends stood in front of me in silence and full of nerves as I looked at my phone. When I saw the word 'Congratulations,' I yelled," Rojas said. "Our mouths dropped, and we were all shocked. I felt as if I could fly." Rojas, a 2020 alum of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was awarded the prestigious Rangel Fellowship in January. The program's website states that "The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process" with the award providing for "two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities."
Shortly after Rojas received news of her award, federal funding cuts led to uncertainty about whether the fellowship would still take place. After several months in a holding pattern, she was thankful to be informed that the fellowship program would continue.
The program prepares exceptional individuals for a career in the Foreign Service for the U.S. Department of State, where they can help formulate, represent, and implement U.S. foreign policy. "It is truly an honor to have been selected to be a part of the 2025 Charles B. Rangel cohort," Rojas said.
This dream-come-true moment had long been in the making for Rajas, a first-generation college student born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska. Despite dealing with a serious illness and hospitalization when she was younger—which significantly impacted and challenged her high school experience and the beginning of university—she has always persevered. Rojas credits her parents for her strength, sharing that they are her role models who have sacrificed and supported her every step of the way.
Rojas and her parents chose UNL because it would give her a chance to spread her wings while still being only two hours from her home and family. Unsure of what she wanted to study as a first-year student, she initially considered criminal law.
"However, after learning more about the different programs at UNL, I declared myself a Global Studies major with my region of study being the Middle East and North Africa," Rojas said. "I minored in Arabic and chose that language early on as an undergrad. It wasn't until later that I decided to add Political Science as a major and National Security as a minor when I realized that all of these things were of interest to me."
Looking back, she can see how her childhood sparked an interest in Global Studies and Political Science. "Growing up in a bilingual home, I have always felt curious about other cultures and languages," Rojas said. Dr. Emira Ibrahimpašić, associate professor of practice and assistant director of Global Studies, became Rojas's academic advisor in August of 2017. "What I found particularly impressive about her as a student while at UNL was that as a native Spanish speaker, she challenged herself in college to learn another language," Professor Ibrahimpašić said. "To do this properly, she spent a year abroad in Jordan and Morocco improving her Arabic."
Participating in UNL's Global Experiences Program during her junior year proved pivotal in Rojas's career journey. "Morocco was the first country I went to outside of the United States, and that experience lit a fire in me for travelling and learning new languages. After studying abroad in Morocco and Jordan, I knew that I wanted to travel more and continue learning about the world," Rojas said.
Rojas planned to return to the region with the Peace Corps after receiving her degree, but the onset of the pandemic postponed those plans. She graduated from UNL in May of 2020. After the Peace Corps posts reopened to volunteers, Rojas traveled to Rwanda. She served for two years as an Education Volunteer, teaching English to approximately 300 students annually, before staying for a third year as a Communications Coordinator.
She shares that the biggest lesson she learned while serving in the Peace Corps was the importance of adaptability and flexibility.
"I'll never forget the first time I walked into my bedroom [where] I would be staying with a host family for the first three months of service. Once my new host family installed me and left me to unpack, I sat on the floor and stared at the mosquito net hanging above the small twin bed in the corner of the room and took a deep breath," Rojas said. "We had just been dropped off in one of the most rural parts of the country, and I asked myself if I could do it. I told myself that I could and would."
Rojas's upbringing, resilience, education, experiential learning, and Nebraska spirit have all contributed to preparing and making her uniquely qualified for her ultimate dream job—becoming a Foreign Service Officer.
Foreign Service Officers are diplomats who focus on political, economic, consular, management, or public diplomacy career tracks. While abroad, Rojas contacted Professor
Ibrahimpašić about applying for the Rangel Fellowship, hoping it might help her achieve her goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer.
"I reached out to her when I was in Rwanda, and even though we hadn't seen or spoken to each other since I had graduated [from] college, she remembered who I was and was immediately encouraging. She told me that she believed I could do it and reminded me that we come from a school that bleeds determination and grit," Rojas said. "Despite her busy schedule, she made time to work with me through every step. I consider her an exceptional mentor and friend, and I'm grateful that professors like her exist at UNL."
Likewise, Professor Ibrahimpašić is impressed by Rojas's passion for international affairs and public service and could not be more delighted that she has been honored with this highly competitive and prestigious award.
"What's especially exciting about this opportunity is that [Rojas] will be able to pursue her graduate studies debt-free. Even more significant, she will enter the U.S. Foreign Service immediately upon graduation—a goal she has been working toward for nearly a decade," Professor Ibrahimpašić said. "The Rangel Program is not only rigorous; it offers unparalleled access to professional internships and a direct pathway into a diplomatic career."
While knowing that the work will be fluid and looking forward to assisting with different assignments from various tracks, Rojas is most interested in the Public Diplomacy career track. "Every Foreign Service Officer has many stories and adventures to share," Rojas said. "The fact that I get to soon have those stories and adventures to share is a dream come true."
Husker alum Lelsie Rojas will begin her Master of Arts degree in Security Policy Studies in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University this August.
"As a United States diplomat, I want to take this opportunity to learn the most that I can. I want to continue learning about different cultures and languages," Rojas said. "Learning about the people around you is always a rewarding experience. It will be one of the best parts of the job."
