Josh Anderson '98

About Josh

Josh graduated from Richmond summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in history.  As a student, Josh was a member of a number of academic societies,  served as a student admission representative, and worked in the Office of International Education.

Josh was selected as an Olmsted Scholar, one of three Marine Corps scholars.  Every year the Foundation selects highly qualified, professional junior officers from each of the four Services to participate in a three year program, which includes a year of intensive language training followed by two years of cultural immersion and graduate study at a foreign university of their choosing.  In July 2005, Josh was sent to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California for a year of intensive basic Serbian language instruction.  In August 2006, Josh and his wife moved to Belgrade, Serbia where he enrolled in a two-year graduate academic specialty program in International Studies at the Faculty of Political Sciences.  During their two years in Belgrade, they tried to immerse themselves in the Serbian culture, continued their language instruction, traveled extensively, and made friends.

Personal Statement

Having recently returned from Belgrade, I feel comfortable in saying that the breadth and quality of education I received at the University of Richmond greatly contributed to my selection as an Olmsted Scholar.  One of General Olmsted’s reasons for creating the scholarship program more than 40 years ago was his contention that every leader needed to be “educated broadly”.  I left UR knowing that I had received one of the best liberal arts educations in the country.  The professors were interested in their students’ academic development, and they encouraged and nurtured our curiosity and openness to new ideas.  I left UR with more than and understanding of politics, economics, and history; I left with an appreciation of literature, art, philosophy, and the world’s religions. 

In our globalizing world, gaining an appreciation for the ‘human condition’ and cultural diversity is increasingly important, and UR is ahead of many universities in preparing their students for becoming knowledgeable, culturally astute leaders within their chosen fields.  For far too long, the combination of our cultural arrogance and ignorance in the United States has prevented us from truly understanding counter-culture or political movements in other parts of the globe.  And, the implication of such ignorance on policy is proving to be a great drain on national resources as we struggle to correct previous errors.  Whatever our chosen course or study or profession, we benefit from a broad, culturally diverse education.  It fosters curiosity and helps us see the world beyond our own borders. 

Contact Josh

Josh invites students to contact him about his experiences at Richmond and abroad. 

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