Meet the Fellows!
Jasmine N. White
—Pickering Grad '08
Jasmine has sought a career that would allow her to link a love of public service with her background in international relations. The Foreign Service provided Jasmine uniquely constructed opportunity to do just that. She is able to represent the United States while building bridges with people and communities around the world.
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Allison Bybee
—Pickering Grad '09
Over the course of her Pickering Fellowship, Allison has been able to see just how seamlessly her diverse interests in global public health, environmental studies, and international relations intersect with her future career objectives in the international policy arena.
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Courtney Woods
—Pickering Grad '09
Originally from Eudora, Arkansas, Courtney has long been devoted to education, service, and cross-cultural interaction. While earning a degree in Education from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, he served in AmeriCorps and was a Bonner Scholar.
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The Thomas R. Pickering
Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship
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Important note on suitability clearances from U.S. Department of State. Read more... |
About the Program | Eligibility | Meet the Fellows
The U.S. Department of State Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program was renamed the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program to honor one of the most distinguished and capable American diplomats of the latter half of the 20th century. Mr. Pickering held the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the U.S. Foreign Service. He served as Ambassador to Nigeria, El Salvador, Israel, India, and the Russian Federation, finishing his career as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. For more information on Ambassador Pickering, please visit the US Department of State website.
The Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The Department of State seeks a Foreign Service that represents America in world affairs with citizens who reflect the diversity and excellence of our society. The Program seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. The goal is to attract outstanding students from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. The Fellowship develops a source of trained men and women from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Award | Internships | Mentoring | Testing | Contractual Agreement
The Award
For the 2013 Fellowships, financial support of up to $40,000 per academic year for each of a two-year master's degree program will be provided for:
- Tuition costs (first priority)
- Room and board
- Books
- Mandatory Fees
- One round trip ticket between Fellow's residence and his/her academic institutions
Internships
Graduate-level Fellows receive stipends during participation in one ten-week domestic summer internship between the first and second year of graduate school, and one ten-week summer overseas internship following the second year of graduate school. These internships provide students with valuable work experience in Foreign Affairs as they engage in the teamwork, the challenges, and the skills needed to perform the duties of a foreign service officer.
Mentoring
Guidance from a Foreign Service officer is provided during graduate school.
Testing
Fellows must meet Department of State Foreign Service entry requirements and take both the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) and the Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA) at least once prior to the completion of the academic requirements of the Fellowship.
Contractual Agreement
Each successful candidate is obligated to a minimum of three years of service in an appointment as a Foreign Service officer. Candidates must be able to obtain medical, security, and suitability clearances in order to remain in the program. Candidates who do not successfully complete the program and fail to meet Foreign Service entry requirements may be subject to a reimbursement obligation to the U.S. Department of State.
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