Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

The U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program was renamed the Thomas R. Pickering 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.

The program provides funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. The fellowship 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 Program 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.

The fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The fellowship award includes tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during the junior and senior years of college and during the first year of graduate study, with reimbursement for books and for travel (one round trip per academic year, up to a set maximum amount). Fellows must commit to pursuing a graduate degree in international studies at one of the graduate schools participating in the program. Participating graduate schools provide financial support in the second year of graduate study based on need. Fellows meet annually in Washington, D.C., for a program orientation.

Program Components

Junior Year Summer InstituteAttendance is required between the junior and senior years of college at a summer institute based at a graduate school of public policy and international affairs participating in the Pickering program. The typical seven-week institute curriculum consists of course work in economics, calculus, and policy analysis, with exercises to develop oral and written communication skills. Institute participants include students from a number of public policy and international affairs fellowship programs.

Two Summer InternshipsFellows must participate in one overseas and one domestic summer internship within the U.S. Department of State. Students receive a stipend during the internships.

Core CurriculumUndergraduate course work must be completed in the following or the equivalent: English composition, western civilization, U.S. political systems, principles of economics, U.S. history, modern non-western history, comparative politics, international trade or world finance or economic development, and geography.

MentoringGuidance from a Foreign Service officer is provided during the graduate school segment of the program.

TestingFellows must meet Department of State Foreign Service entry requirements.

Contractual AgreementEach successful candidate is obligated to a minimum of four-and-one-half years’ service in an appointment as a Foreign Service officer. Candidates who do not successfully complete the fellowship program and Foreign Service entry requirements may be subject to a reimbursement obligation to the Department of State. The Pickering Fellowship program is funded by the U.S. Department of State, and is administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (WWNFF).

tatuatory Information

* PUBLIC LAW 101-246, 101st Congress, 104 STAT.42 Section 47 "The Secretary of State may make grants to post-secondary educational institutions or students for the purpose of increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign Service, consistent with section 105 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. To the extent possible, the Secretary shall give special emphasis to promoting such knowledge and awareness of, and interest in employment with the Foreign Service among students. Any grants awarded shall be made pursuant to regulations to be established by the Secretary of State, which shall provide for a limit on the size of any specific grant and, regarding any grants to individuals, shall ensure that no grant recipient receives and amount of grants from one or more Federal programs which in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his or her education, and shall require satisfactory educational progress by grantees as a condition of eligibility for continued receipt of grant funds."

References

* The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation - [http://www.woodrow.org/public-policy/undergraduate.php The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship]
* US Department of State - [http://www.careers.state.gov/student/programs/pickering.html The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program]