Lacrosse is a sport that demands a unique combination of quickness, stamina, and toughness. It also demands concentration, all of which suits recently graduated Tufts long-stick midfielder Jordan Yarboro just fine.

“I like to get out there and mix it up,” he said. “Tufts is very demanding academically, and lacrosse was a great way to take some time out and challenge myself in a different way.

He did so very successfully, earning his second straight All-New England First Team selection and All-American honors for 2009. He was a two-year captain for the Jumbos.

As an international relations major, Yarboro had a particular interest in economic development. A semester spent studying in Argentina gave him his first chance to explore the topic up close and personal.

“I had a chance to look firsthand at some of the problems – as well as successes – of Latin American economies,” he said. “It really expanded my sense of myself as a citizen of the world.

The experience in Argentina gave Yarboro valuable insights into how closely interconnected those economies are with the United States. As a result, his commitment to his chosen field has become even stronger. “The world’s problems go beyond borders,” he said. “We won’t solve them unless we work together.”