Communication studies (CMST) is a vast field, and oftentimes finding your niche can be difficult. Senior CMST student Lucy Niyazova (she/her) plans to use her experience at Klein College of Media and Communication, as well as her minor in education from the College of Education and Human Development, to go into education policy concerning language education.

Niyazova has been interning at the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL), which is partnered with the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), since summer 2021. Communication and social influence student and Niyazova’s friend Hannah Seewald (she/her) recommended her for the job when Seewald’s mom, the president of JNCL-NCLIS, came to her asking if she knew anyone that would be a good intern.

“The one person I knew right away was the perfect fit was Lucy,” Seewald said. Niyazova has been the communications and policy intern for JNCL-NCLIS ever since.

JNCL-NCLIS is an advocacy group that works to champion language education in businesses and schools. They aim to build equitable spaces by taking their efforts to Capitol Hill where they speak to Congress about the importance of funding dual language programs in schools and the benefits learning other languages has for foreign policy.

Niyazova is particularly interested in dual language immersion programs in elementary schools. When she started kindergarten, Niyazova only spoke Russian, but by first grade, she was fluent in English. The research, she says, shows that children are more receptive to language acquisition when they are younger, which is why she was able to learn so fast.

At JNCL-NCLIS, Niyazova specifically works on social media posts and newsletters for the organization. Manager of Communications Policy and Operations for JNCL-NCLIS Alissa Rutkowski (she/her) noted that Niyazova’s communications background helps with the grassroots advocacy they do. In addition, she said, Niyazova has also learned about the policy side of their efforts and has come up with great ideas on both fronts.

“Lucy has been an amazing intern,” Rutkowski said. “She has just been incredible to work with.” 

Niyazova’s various social media campaigns and communication solutions have almost doubled the number of followers the organization has on Twitter, and Rutkowski is glad to have Niyazova on the team.

As much as JNCL-NCLIS benefits from having Niyazova, Niyazova benefits from her internship. “It’s definitely one of those internships that I’m walking away with so much knowledge of what it means to be a language advocate,” she said.

However, it took some time for Niyazova to find her niche in language advocacy and education. While taking a Spanish class at Temple University, she ended up volunteering at the Garces Foundation to fulfill her 10 hours of community service for the course. She became a teacher for adults that were looking to learn English to help them in the workplace. 

“That was so fun,” Niyazova said. “It was one of my favorite experiences I’ve ever had.” 

After she fulfilled her requirement, Niyazova wanted to maintain the work. In the spring of 2020, she started at Puentes de Salud, an after-school tutoring center for bilingual students in third through eighth grade. Puentes de Salud has also partnered with Yes! to Consent, and Niyazova and other volunteers now teach sex education courses every week in both English and Spanish.

“After both of those experiences I was like, ‘That’s it. I’m declaring education as a minor. I’m staying in the field. I love it,’” Niyazova said.

Seewald is certain that Niyazova exemplifies everything a Klein and Temple student should be. Her passion for her work is contagious and has inspired Seewald to seek out opportunities for herself because she knows she has Niyazova behind her cheering her on.

With graduation quickly approaching, Niyazova has been applying to graduate school programs and jobs in the realm of education policy. She recently got her first acceptance, to Boston University, and is looking forward to using her communication and education experience to stay in the field of language education for years to come.