Madison Marks, 2013 Boren Scholar in Jordan
Fresh off a one-year stint in Jordan on a prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship, Madison Marks doesn’t slow down. With a keen interest in international refugee studies, Madison has pursued every opportunity to advance her Arabic language skills, gain international field experience and prepare a solid resume, with her eye on becoming a future graduate student at Oxford University.
The Boren Awards for International Study, are highly competitive fellowships for study abroad. Funded by the National Security Education Program, the Boren Awards provide undergraduate and graduate fellowships of $20-$30K to fund opportunities to study the language and culture of countries normally underrepresented in U.S. study abroad programs. Applicants must convince the selection committee how their study abroad program, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security. In my previous post “How to Win a Boren Fellowship”, I discuss the importance of crafting a compelling application. Madison provides her insider tips on crafting a national security-related project proposal in the context of economic sustainability. She also talks frankly about her experience applying for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for study at Oxford.
1. What inspired you to apply for the Boren Scholarship and what was your experience like?
I enrolled in Arabic at FSU, but there were few opportunities to practice the language outside of the classroom; therefore, I sought opportunities to gain an extended immersion experience abroad.
The Boren Scholarship is a National Security Education Program-funded grant that enables students to pursue immersion experiences with languages that are pertinent to U.S. national security interests, broadly defined. Undergraduate Boren Scholars can receive up to $20,000 for study abroad. Boren tends to select students who choose to spend 6-12 months in one country as opposed to one semester. The application process involves writing two essays. One of these essays describes how the language and country chosen is pertinent to the applicant’s goals and U.S. national security interests; the other is a more general overview of the preferred study abroad program.
Developing my proposal for the Boren scholarship was actually quite challenging because I was interested in studying Sudanese Arabic. Both Sudan and South Sudan are on the U.S. State Department Travel Warning list, therefore I had to be creative with my application. My interest in Sudan developed during my first two years at FSU where I wrote several term papers and did a Directed Individual Study related to the causes and consequences of displacement in the Nuba Mountains area of Sudan. Through my research, I learned that the largest Sudanese diaspora community is in Cairo. As a result, I crafted my Boren application in such a way that I emphasized the importance of studying in Cairo so that I could also interact with Sudanese refugees to learn the dialect. I emphasized the importance of having U.S. experts in Sudan in the future, as well as my desire to contribute towards security in the Sudan via economic sustainability projects, especially related to education.
During the period between submitting my application in January 2011 and receiving the Boren Scholarship in May 2011, Egypt experienced a lot of economic and political transitions following the fall of Mubarak. My study abroad program was canceled for the fall, so I switched to Jordan. I had won a grant from my university to study Arabic in Jordan the summer, so I was simply extending my stay from three months to a full year.
I studied Arabic intensively at Qasid Institute, progressing through level 6 of Modern Standard Arabic. I did not go with an organized study abroad group, so I did much of my planning for extracurricular activities, language partners, and travel by myself or with my group of friends. I volunteered with refugee aid and civil society organizations in order to learn more about different NGOs, and taught conversational English. All of these extracurricular activities and language partners enabled me to hone my Arabic conversational skills and gave me insight into my academic and professional interests. Working with and befriending refugees from across the Middle East and North Africa sparked an interest in pursuing further education in Refugee and Forced Migration studies.
Upon returning to the U.S. in summer 2012, I worked with refugees in Nashville, Tennessee in order to learn about the U.S. resettlement process and the challenges that refugees face in adjusting to American culture and systems. My experience in Nashville and the Middle East motivated me to apply for the Rhodes scholarship in order to obtain an MPhil in International Development. Oxford has the world’s leading Refugee Studies Centre, and I wanted to concentrate my master’s thesis on issues concerning forced migration. Because I had already applied for the Boren scholarship, I was prepared for the hard work that the Rhodes application would require. Drafting a personal statement was difficult (and took between 10 and 12 different drafts!) yet rewarding because I was finally able to put my story down on paper in a concise way and better articulate my personal and professional goals. Being selected as a finalist for the Rhodes in fall 2012 was an honor. It challenged me to learn how to articulate my goals in an interview setting and not just on paper. I have grown much as a result of these fellowships and would not have been able to have the opportunities I did without the funding abilities like Boren. The most rewarding part is the personal growth you gain from the application process, whether or not you are selected as a fellow or not.
2. What do you think made your application stand out?
My application to the Boren was unique because of my interest in national security-related issues in the Sudan. The country that was most closely related to Sudan in language and culture was Egypt; therefore, I drafted my application emphasizing the importance of studying in Cairo in order for me to enhance my Arabic skills and understanding of Sudanese culture and dynamics. As mentioned before, the largest number of Sudanese refugees are in Cairo. In addition to my Arabic studies, I planned to volunteer with NGOs that would enable me to use my Arabic skills while learning about the challenges that Sudanese refugees faced in Cairo. Ultimately, I believe my application stood out because it was atypical in the way that I defined the importance of national security in a country like Sudan that is often overlooked in discussions on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. While I ended up studying in Jordan, I pursued my interests in education and social development through volunteerism there, and I visited Cairo on my route home.
I started drafting my essays two to three months before the application deadline in order to give myself time to work through several revisions. Giving myself plenty of time on the application helped me to dwell on areas in which I needed to improve, and what was not necessary to get my point across. If I could give advice to other applicants for the Boren Scholarship, it would be the following:
- Talk to your university fellowships advisor and your major professors early. The application deadline on your campus might be a few weeks before the national deadline. Beginning in October and November gives you plenty of time to do research on your proposed study abroad programs.
- Notify those who will be writing your letters of recommendation well in advance.
- Contact your proposed study abroad programs in advance in order to get the name of the admissions coordinator. If you are having trouble finding a study abroad program, see where other Boren scholars have studied in the past. The Boren website has a list of sites where you might be able to find a list of websites internationally.
- Staying with a host family or in a dorm will provide you unique insight into the culture, and will help you grow your language skills.
- While writing your essays, be sure to answer the prompt questions directly: (1) why the language you seek to study is important to national security; (2) the importance of the country you are studying in; (3) how you came to be interested in this language/country/topic and how you plan to use your acquired skills following the Boren scholarship; (4) where you plan to fulfill your year of service; and (5) how the study abroad programs of your choice will enable you to reach your goals.
- Do your research to create a realist budget. For instance, taxis in Jordan were $4.00 per day. This adds up over a year!
- Keep a timeline of the deadlines for the study abroad programs you have chosen. You will be notified in May whether or not you received the Boren, but you should have applied to the study abroad programs by this time…. Especially if you are starting in summer!
- Reach out to other Boren alumni for any questions. If you are selected as a Boren Scholar, you will have access to a Facebook group for Boren scholars. I utilized this in order to find a roommate in Jordan who is now one of my dearest friends!
3. How has the Boren Scholarship influenced your professional interests and career path?
The Boren Scholarship allowed me to gain advanced proficiency in Arabic, a skill that is fundamental for work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Living in Jordan for a year also enabled me to explore my interests in refugee assistance and civil society development by volunteering with international and local organizations. Additionally, I was introduced to a network of Boren scholars and other international students and professionals who share an interest in the Middle East.
Overall, my academic and work experiences and the relationships built throughout my time on the Boren Scholarship has encouraged me to pursue a career whereby I can work towards education and social development in the MENA region. The definition of national security includes economic sustainability. I hope to use my language skills in a position with the State Department where I can work towards development policies and strategies related to refugees and asylum seekers in the Middle East and North Africa
I will be working in Washington D.C. this summer as an intern with World Justice Project. I will be working with research, communications, and data collection related to the annual release of the Rule of Law Index. After this summer, I plan to stay in D.C. or move to the Middle East in order to gain experience in the field of international education and social development. My goal is to attend graduate school in the near future for an M.A. in International Development with a focus in Economics. I still hope to attend Oxford in order to interact with the world’s leading professionals in the field of Refugee and Forced Migration studies.
Madison Marks is from Jacksonville, Florida and is a recent graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies. Madison is currently based in Washington D.C. where she is a Rule of Law Index intern with World Justice Project. Her areas of interest include international education and social development and forced migration issues with a focus in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Hillary Evans, 2011-12 Fulbright Scholar in Tajikistan
We recently met Hillary Evans at our first Esteemed Fellows Dinner in San Francisco. When you first meet Hillary, she seems like your typical recent graduate. But when you ask her how she came to her new position at the Silicon Valley Center For Global Studies, you learn that while she was student, she lived and studied in some of the most far-fetched corners of the globe, including Russia, China and most recently, Tajikistan. During her senior year at Syracuse University, Hillary applied for a Fulbright Research Scholarship to study drug trafficking along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. We asked Hillary to tell us more about her fascinating Fulbright experience.
1. What inspired you to apply for a Fulbright in Tajikistan?
I’m extremely passionate about international education and public diplomacy efforts of engagement. What inspired me initially to apply for a Fulbright scholarship to Tajikistan was my itching travel bug (turns out, that never leaves some people!). I narrowed down a couple of languages that I wanted to learn and geographical regions I was most interested in, and was left with Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iran. Since there are no fellowships for American students that I was qualified for in Iran and Afghanistan, the decision was made for me. As a student of International Affairs focused on CIS countries, I was able to prepare a solid research proposal on current, relevant issues.
Tajikistan shares a long, mountainous, sparsely-regulated border with opium-rich Afghanistan. Estimates of Tajikistan’s economic dependence upon profits from the trafficking of opium via the Northern Route ranges from 30-50% of their GDP, making this an incredibly relevant national security issue for the United States. So, given Tajikistan’s geopolitical importance, it seemed only natural to write a grant proposal on “The Economics and Politics of the Opium Trade from Afghanistan.”
Once I found out I was granted the research scholarship for 2011-12, I started networking like crazy in Washington, DC and set myself up with a nice arrangement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as a supporting institution. In exchange for social media/marketing/and press relations training and assistance at their office, they gave me access to their broad network of contacts in the field and included me on several UN border missions.
2. How has the experience impacted your career path and interests?
Hillary Evans with Tajikistan Ambassador Abjujabbor Shirinov (credit: Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences)
While I have yet to formally publish anything on my findings, I anonymously contributed to several articles written by journalists passing through demonstrating my ultimate conclusion: without the profits of the drug trade, Tajikistan would be a failed state, which is not in anyone’s interest. Questions that I am currently exploring and working to articulate diplomatically are: Why then spend so much money and resources on counter narcotics enforcement?; How are the counter narcotics training and US-funded programs affecting Tajikistan?; and What would be left, if all of the opium fields were eradicated in Afghanistan?
Had I taken credit for my contributions, it would have jeopardized my connections and positions. A friend of mine was a journalist who experienced the unfortunate wrath of the Tajik government, and was forced to pay some hefty bribes to leave the country for fear of being arrested. Naturally, I was cautious.
I’m now back in the U.S. and working as a contract manager for a U.S. State Department-funded distance education enhancement program in Pakistan. Our goal is to give them the pedagogical resources to expand their operations and outreach and make them more capable of providing affordable or free education. One of the ways we are doing this is by building a partnership between San Jose State University and Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad. Eventually, I hope to join the Foreign Service someday as a Cultural Affairs Officer, or Public Diplomacy Officer.
3. What advice would you give others applying for a Fulbright?
A Fulbright application differs greatly from country to country, and when selecting your destination and research topic, you should be aware of what the particular selected country/region has a demand for. You can do this by researching the US Embassy funded programs and by keeping yourself abreast of current international issues. This is not to say that if you choose something that does not fall under the “necessary” category, you will not be picked. Just keep in mind that the Public Affairs section of the US Embassy does the final selection.
When planning for a supporting host institution, or “affiliation,” make sure you’ve reached out to several people within that institution that are willing to support you. In order to secure mine, I drew up an informal “memorandum of understanding” and wrote where I could volunteer and help out in their organization in exchange for office space, contacts, resources, etc. People are usually open to free labor! If you need assistance on selecting one, the US Embassy Public Affairs office staff are generally willing to help, or I would be more than happy to be someone to bounce ideas off of – especially in CIS countries!
Another piece of advice that may go without saying for most people would be to show up to your interviews knowing more about your research topic than your panel (or at least appearing to with confidence). They don’t want to fund someone that they think might get there and just be wandering and lost the whole time. Show focus, determination, and passion for your topic. Indicate clear goals and timelines. You will not necessarily have to stick with it, everyone knows when you get in country things tend to shift. This is where many of my fellow Syracuse applicants did not pass. They wrote amazing grant proposals, but had no clear plans of how to deliver and conduct their research.
Lastly, know the language of the country you are applying to. This will make your application more competitive and your life a whole lot easier.
Hillary Evans earned her B.A. in International Relations, with a concentration in Europe and Eurasian countries, from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. In her fall semester of 2009, she was accepted into the Library of Congress’ Open World Leadership Program, a prestigious international security studies work/study program in Washington, DC, where she interned at a public diplomacy organization specializing in Eurasia. Hillary is now the Contract Manager for the Pakistan Distance Education Enhancement Program at the Silicon Valley Center For Global Studies of the San Jose State University Research Foundation in California. She speaks fluent Russian, moderate Mandarin Chinese, and some Tajik/Farsi.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are eligible for a fantastic perk: a graduate school fellowship through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program (formerly known as Fellows/USA). In exchange for financial assistance, Fellows commit to using the skills they developed during their Peace Corps assignments to complete internships in underserved American communities. Since its inception, nearly 4,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have participated in the Coverdell Fellows Program, which provides tuition reduction, full scholarships, or stipends.
Coverdell Fellows Program partner schools offer degree programs, including master’s and doctorate degrees, across a broad spectrum of specialties, from American studies to urban planning. Michgan Tech recently joined the list of more than 80 partner universities in 30 states. The new fellowships at Michigan Tech will support graduate degrees in biological sciences, forestry, applied ecology, forest ecology and management, forest molecular genetics and biotechnology, environmental policy and industrial archaeology.
Returned Volunteers who have satisfactorily completed their Peace Corps service have lifetime eligibility for the Coverdell Fellows Program. Volunteers may choose to participate immediately following their Peace Corps service, or any time thereafter, which means there are Fellows of all ages and professional backgrounds.
The Peace Corps is a two-year international community service fellowship that traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. Since that time, 210,000+ Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. The Peace Corps provides Volunteers with a living allowance that enables one to live in a manner similar to the local people in his or her community, as well as deferment and cancellation of student loans and a “readjustment” allowance of $7,425 (pre-tax) upon completion of service.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Malaika Neri, 2010 ThinkSwiss Research Scholar
Malaika Neri has a knack for finding interesting opportunities to study and work abroad on independent projects. Between her sophomore and junior year at New York University’s (NYU) Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she studied Economics and International Development, Malaika was one of 19 people chosen for the Swiss government’s ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship. She spent the summer of 2010 at the Université de Neuchâtel in Switzerland where she researched and published an academic paper on the Swiss response to the 2008 financial crisis. She subsequently completed a year’s coursework for a Master’s in Public Administration at NYU’s Wagner School and was one of ten students selected for the inaugural class of the NYU Gallatin Fellowship in Global Human Rights. The fellowship provided her a $5,000 grant to spend the summer working for OTIV Alaotra Mangoro, a microfinance organization in Madagascar, and enabled her to study how microfinance can be used to fulfill social and economic rights. Now based in Quito, Ecuador as an international development consultant, Malaika connected with us to tell us more about that first, inspirational research trip to Switzerland.
1. What inspired you to apply for the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship?
I had wanted to study abroad, like many of my friends in college were doing, but wasn’t interested in simply “studying abroad” for the sake of it; neither did I want to go abroad and volunteer, when I could do that in my own community. So I searched online for opportunities to be abroad, doing something academic, such as research. That’s when I found the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship, which was open to any major, and offered the chance to do research at a Swiss university or research institute. It was perfect!
2. What do you think made your application stand out?
One of the primary selection criteria for the scholarship is serving as a student ambassador of a U.S. university in Switzerland. In my application, I wrote about moving to the United States from India with my family, and although my accent and body language often continue to mark me as a foreigner in the U.S., I realized that there was no point in rejecting the opportunity to learn more about what a new culture has to offer. I’m fairly certain that this anecdote swayed the acceptance committee in my favor. I was also very specific in my reasons for choosing the Institute for Economic Research (Irene) at the Economics Department of the Université de Neuchâtel as my host institution, and for selecting a school in the francophone part of the country.
3. What did you accomplish during the fellowship and how has the experience influenced your career goals?
Malaika in Switzerland
Through the three month fellowship, I was able to research and write an in-depth report on the Swiss government’s reaction to the 2008 financial crisis. Being in Switzerland helped enormously; because the government is so extraordinarily responsive, I was able to pick up the phone and call the Ministry of Finance, and they helped me find all the information I needed. It was an amazing experience. When I came back to the U.S., I found an academic journal that was willing to publish my report, and a few months later, saw it in print!
Conducting research in Switzerland was an extremely formative experience in my decision to pursue a PhD., and to continue the study of political economy. Being part of an academic community, not simply as a student but as a colleague, offered the opportunity to be among brilliant minds who were also supportive peers and inspired me to be a part of that world. All in all, I’m very, very grateful to have had the experience.
The next deadline for the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship is April 30, 2013. Apply now.
Malaika Neri graduated in 2012 with a BA in Development Economics and International Development at the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Malaika was a writer for the book “Telecentre Women Digital Literacy Campaign: Empowerment Through Technology, a global initiative of Telecentre.org Foundation and the International Telecommunications Union of the United Nations. She has also developed social impact strategy analysis for a variety of non-profits, philanthropies, and corporate clients. She was a semi-finalist in the 2012 NYU Entrepreneurship Challenge and accepted into NYU Reynold’s Changemaker Challenge, part of the Catherine B. Reynolds program in Social Entrepreneurship.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
In follow-up to my article on How To Fully Fund Your PhD, we began a series on fully funded PhD programs in various disciplines. There are several competitive, external fellowships that fund doctoral study, but if funding is a concern, it is a better strategy to apply to PhD programs that offer full funding to all admitted students. When a doctoral program indicates that they provide full funding to their PhD students, in most cases this means they provide each admitted student full tuition and a stipend for living expenses for the four to six year duration of the student’s doctoral studies. Not all universities provide full funding to their doctoral students, which is why I recommend researching the financial aid offerings of all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad.
To view over 400 professional and academic fellowships, including fellowships for graduate and doctoral study and pre- and post-doctoral research, sign up to view ProFellow’s fellowships database.
Below is a list of universities that offer full funding to all of the admitted students to their PhD programs in international relations, international affairs and international development:
American University, School of International Service, PhD in International Relations (Washington, DC): All those admitted to the SIS PhD program as full-time students and who maintain good progress toward completing the degree are granted a Dean’s Fellowship in each of the first four years of study, unless a student opts to waive financial aid.
Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, PhD in Sustainable Development (New York, NY): Full-tuition fellowships with stipends are available for all admitted students who are not already sponsored by their governments, employers, or a foundation. The fellowships are open to all admitted students regardless of citizenship.
Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, PhD in Public Affairs (Princeton, NJ): The doctoral program offers full merit-based funding to cover the cost of each student’s tuition and living expenses for four years. In return, each Ph.D. student is expected to work as a teaching assistant following completion of the general examinations for one semester or the equivalent of a “three-hour” teaching assignment. Ph.D. students also receive a 12-month stipend for research and living expenses, and are eligible to apply for other competitive graduate fellowships awarded by the Graduate School.
Stanford University, Department of Political Science, PhD in Political Science (Focus in International Relations) (Stanford, CA): The department offers a standard package, consisting of a stipend and the payment of tuition and fees, to most incoming students. Both domestic and international students are eligible for this standard package. Although the Department cannot formally guarantee support beyond the first year, it expects to continue to provide an additional four years of support to students making satisfactory academic progress. This assistance normally covers the full cost of tuition and an additional amount for living expenses during the academic year. The latter amount is usually in the form of a stipend, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship.
University of California Berkeley, Department of Political Science, PhD in Political Science (Subfield in International Relations) (Berkeley, CA): The Political Science department supports its graduate students through a combination of department fellowships, university multiyear fellowships, and teaching and research assistantships. Most incoming students are awarded five years of funding support consisting of fees and non-resident tuition, and student health insurance. All funding packages are contingent on meeting minimum academic and residency requirements throughout the tenure of support. United States citizens and Permanent Residents are required to achieve California residency by the end of their first year in California to receive continued fee support.
University of Chicago, Department of Political Science, PhD in Political Science (Focus in International Relations) (Chicago, IL): As a general principle, we provide extensive funding for all students who matriculate in our doctoral programs. Applicants to our doctoral programs are considered for all fellowship resources at the University of Chicago for which they are eligible. We offer Divisional fellowships at two levels. Both levels provide support for up to five years, are contingent on good progress, and are renewed annually.
University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, PhD in International Studies (Denver, CO): The Josef Korbel School provides a three year full tuition waiver and living stipend for most applicants accepted to the doctoral program. In addition, doctoral candidates can take advantage of opportunities to serve as research assistants at the Josef Korbel School.
University of Guelph, PhD in International Development Studies (Guelph, Ontario, Canada): PhD students who are accepted at the University of Guelph are guaranteed a minimum stipend of $17,500 per year over three years of full-time study. However, most departments participating in the collaborative program set a higher minimum standard.
University of Ottawa, School of International Development and Global Studies, PhD in International Development (Ottawa, Canada): The Faculty of Social Sciences has a minimum funding policy that guarantees funding of at least $19,000 for each of the four years of doctoral study to all new doctoral students meeting the requirements described below. A fifth year of funding is available under certain conditions.
University of Washington, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, PhD in International Studies (Seattle, WA): The Jackson School aims to provide competitive financial packages for all admitted doctoral candidates. Determinations about financial awards are made at the time of admission and during the course of a student’s time at JSIS. Funding guarantees for consecutive years is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. All accepted doctoral candidates are automatically considered for fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.
Yale University, Department of Political Science, PhD in Political Science (Subfield in International Relations) (New Haven, CT): All admitted Ph.D. students receive five full years of funding, including tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend.
Do you know of other PhD programs in International Relations and International Development that offer full funding to their doctoral students? We are happy to update this list, so please contact us or leave a comment below.
Also sign up to check our fellowships database to learn about other opportunities to fund graduate and doctoral study.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Global Health Corps Fellow Jared Stancombe (right) with Barbara Bush (center), co-founder and CEO of the Global Health Corps and Neil Malilwe (left), a Zambian GHC Fellow.
Jared Stancombe believes it is our civic duty to give back to our country and community. Motivated by his passion for public service, Jared pursued an opportunity to earn an officer commission with the United States Marine Corps, but unfortunately was set back by a prolonged illness. Undeterred, Jared pursued another opportunity – a position in the City Year Corps, a program supported by the national AmeriCorps program, which unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep students in school and on track to graduation. Over the course of 2,000 hours of service, Jared provided pre-algebra math tutoring, afterschool instruction, role modeling, and mentoring services to 140 at-risk youth at Kramer Middle School in Washington, DC. After his City Year service, Jared was competitively chosen for the prestigious Global Health Corps, which place fellows in yearlong paid positions with organizations in the U.S. and Africa doing excellent work in improving healthcare access and health outcomes for the poor. Placement organizations range from small grassroots organizations to large global institutions. Intrigued by Jared’s passion for helping others, we asked him more about his experience with the Global Health Corps program.
1. Why did you apply to the Global Health Corps?
I applied because after working in inner city Washington, DC neighborhood as a corps member with City Year, I was exposed to how inequality perpetuates poverty, crime, and disease. I worked in an area of the United States that has higher HIV/AIDS prevalence rates than most sub-Saharan African countries, and observed first hand the devastating effects it can have upon children. I learned of the Global Health Corps through City Year, and found it to be a once in a lifetime experience that can provide the necessary professional experience and development to pursue a career in global health. I particularly like how it promotes global health equity, and creates a close community of exceptional leaders and practitioners to solve complex global health problems. I applied to my particular position with a small NGO called Action Africa Help International because it combines my experience working in security, education, and nonprofit management.
2. What is the Global Health Corps experience like?
The experience is life changing. I met the other fellows during our training at a highly prestigious school on the east coast, and my first impression was that I was completely outclassed. But over the course of two weeks, I became very close to many of the other fellows, and we developed a true sense of community before heading off to our placements. Even here in Zambia, we stick together and constantly bounce ideas off each other. This is my first time in Africa and exposure to African culture, so it was difficult making the transition in the first three months of my fellowship. Six months in, I feel that I know my place, and where I can best serve within my organization.
I have learned an incredible amount about international development, refugee affairs, financial management, performance management, and financing, and I am using it every day. Having a completely different perspective within an organization can create truly innovative solutions if they can be implemented properly. Having ideas is easy, it is implementation that is the most difficult here, and my supervisor wants results. She is completely supportive, and has placed me on several important projects, such as developing an organizational business model.
Besides working, vacations are definitely fun. Zambia is most known for Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. We went there with other fellows from other programs, and I went whitewater rafting in the most intense rapids in the world, and went swimming in the “Devil’s Pool” along the edge of the falls.
This is a once in a lifetime experience, and as with any experience, there are highs and lows. Sometimes I feel like I’m not making a difference here, but when I go out into the field and learn how much good Action Africa Help International is doing, it strengthens my commitment to do my share of the task. Also, I am amazed at some of the work other fellows are doing throughout Africa, and I feel honored to be apart of such a community of passionate young leaders. I can see within a decade or two some fellows taking senior cabinet level positions in African countries such as Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda.
3. What tips would you give others applying to the Global Health Corps program?
The Global Health Corps program is one of the most competitive fellowships in the world. I believe around 1% of all fellows who apply from the United States are offered fellowships. You don’t have to have a graduate degree in public health to apply. I don’t have a graduate degree, but I do have around five years of experience working in the public and nonprofit sectors. The current corps of fellows is incredibly diverse, and we have computer scientists, architects, medical researchers, teachers, consultants, and policy analysts among others. My advice is to figure out how you can best leverage your education, experience, and skillset towards furthering the mission of the Global Health Corps of advancing global health equity. When you apply for the fellowship, you apply for a specific position. Read the job descriptions very carefully, and during the interviews, which are several, be prepared to answer questions on how your experience best relates to the needs of the placement.
The most important thing is to advertise yourself, but be honest and humble. The amount of talent the Global Health Corps attracts is truly unique. The entire corps participates in recruitment, and the program is not for people who just want international experience, or a year between undergrad and medical school. The Global Health Corps wants people who are absolutely committed and driven to make a difference through immense adversity.
Applications for Global Health Corps are now open! Apply by February 3, 2013.
Jared Stancombe is a 2012-2013 Global Health Corps fellow for Action Africa Help International–Zambia. He is a former analyst with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an alumnus of City Year Washington, DC, and a member of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. He is a 2009 graduate of Indiana University, where he graduated with honors in Political Science, focusing on the influence of informal economies upon civil conflicts in Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Jared is from Bedford, Indiana. After the Global Health Corps, he hopes to continue his career in public service through fellowships in social enterprise or enter a graduate program in business administration, policy analysis, or international relations.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
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