The Ohio State University has been awarded a grant from the Mellon Foundation to support a major initiative redefining world language education for the 21st century. Global Fluency, Career Agility: Ohio State’s Model for Transforming World Languages integrates language study with interdisciplinary learning, community engagement and career preparation. At a time when many institutions are reducing language offerings and scaling back on faculty who teach them, Ohio State is expanding its investment—recognizing cross-cultural communication as a critical skill for leadership and professional success in today’s global workforce. Funding will significantly accelerate and scale the university’s transformation of world language scholarship, pedagogy and engagement programs that prepare students to thrive in an increasingly connected world. 

The university will launch a series of innovative academic pathways and experiential learning opportunities designed to prepare students for leadership in an interconnected world. Plans include new interdisciplinary “languages + x” double majors, the first-of-its-kind American Sign Language major in the Big Ten, and a Global Ambassador internship program that connects students with communities across Ohio and beyond. The initiative also includes hiring new tenure-track faculty, establishing a postdoctoral-to-tenure-track pipeline, and developing new courses centered on global citizenship and cultural competency.

The initiative is designed to deliver measurable impact by increasing student enrollment and career readiness in world languages while strengthening Ohio State’s position as a national leader in humanities education. Through internships, partnerships with local schools and organizations, and expanded outreach efforts, students will gain practical experience applying language skills in real-world settings—helping to build a more globally fluent workforce and foster deeper community connections throughout the region. This grant builds on Ohio State’s recent investments in world languages and reflects a long-term commitment to sustaining and growing these programs. 

With this support, the university will implement a scalable model for institutions nationwide—demonstrating how language education can drive innovation, opportunity and global understanding in higher education and beyond. “We are grateful for support from the Mellon Foundation,” said Dean of Arts and Humanities Dana Renga.  “The grant will empower us to reimagine world language education and create meaningful opportunities for students to engage across cultures and further develop those essential communication and cultural competencies.”