Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in meaningful work and allow them to grow their skills. In this article, we feature Lydia Grate, a dynamic individual whose journey through various fellowships and international roles has shaped her career and passion for public service. Programs like the Peace Corps, International Development Fellowships, and the Obama Foundation are designed to cultivate leaders who can drive positive changes in communities worldwide. The Peace Corps, for instance, is a renowned service program that sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people worldwide. Similarly, the Obama Foundation works to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world, fostering the next generation of civic leaders. These fellowships offer hands-on experience and connect fellows with a network of like-minded professionals and mentors dedicated to public service.
Lydia’s story is about perseverance, curiosity, and a deep commitment to making a difference. Through her various roles, she has gained invaluable insights and developed a strong foundation in public service. Now, as a Global Programs Associate at the Obama Foundation, Lydia continues to use her experiences to drive positive change.
What interested you in pursuing public relations, broadcast journalism, and communications degrees, and why all 3?
Coming from a low-income background, I relied on scholarships and grants to fund my undergraduate studies. This was a relentless process that sometimes only guaranteed full funding one semester at a time. To avoid the stress, my initial plan was to graduate as early as possible. By squeezing in courses through summer sessions, or skipping them entirely via the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, I was able to complete a double major and minor after 2.5 years. While I was eligible for an early graduation, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do as a next step.
I was lucky that around that time, Arkansas created a scholarship program for in-state students. This provided enough funding for me to complete four full years of school and, as a result, time for me to explore new coursework and get more involved on campus and in my community. I chose to dive deeper into a few fields I previously focused on as electives, which eventually led to the three degrees and two minors. Though it took a little strategy to line up all my courses at the end, it definitely wasn’t my intention at the start. It was more so just the combination of all my interests.
What was the inspiration behind going on to get your Master’s in Public Service?
My family relied on social services while I was growing up, and this instilled in me the desire to give back. During undergrad, I held multiple leadership positions for campus organizations that engaged students in community service – from organizing canned food drives to teaching senior citizens computer skills. I also became deeply involved in community development and engagement through an internship at my local Chamber of Commerce.
I continued leaning into this combination of skills as I traveled around the world for nearly a decade before I considered pursuing public service as a career. A few highlights include my Peace Corps service in Togo, volunteering for a sex-trafficking prevention project in Thailand, organizing community festivals in New Zealand, and mentoring youth transitioning to independent living in Australia. I chose President Clinton’s School of Public Service for my master’s because of that same practical and skills-based approach. The program forces students out of the classroom, and into the field, with three unique public service projects. Receiving the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship (a funding source for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) also reduced the tuition by half.
You completed an international development fellowship and interned for the US State Department. Can you talk a little about these opportunities?
My first international experience was the Peace Corps, and it really opened my mind and passion to continue traveling the world. It also equipped me with a variety of skills, including project management, training, and the ability to speak French fluently. These skills were foundational to the International Development Fellowship, which I later completed in Madagascar. This fellowship was a post-grad opportunity shared with me by a professor at the Clinton School of Public Service.
While in the Peace Corps, I was also fortunate enough to meet Togolese alumni of the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) – the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program that provides short-term visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world. These leaders were incredibly impressive, innovative, and highly motivated; one created a social enterprise that produced batik* goods, and focused on upskilling and instilling creativity in local youth. Another IVLP alumni I met focused on girls empowerment, unafraid to speak up about sexual health and self-reliance – topics that were absent from many school clubs and youth programs at the time.
These alumni were my inspiration to apply for a State Department internship and work in the Office of International Visitors, which manages IVLP. I subsequently completed a second internship in the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs.
*batik is a wax-resistant tie-dye
Then, you became a Global Programs Associate for the Voyager Scholarship for the Obama Foundation. What led you to apply for this position?
When I was near the end of the International Development Fellowship, I saw the Global Programs Associate position posted on LinkedIn. It was quite a unique role that seemed to merge the defining aspects of my personal life and career: a (funded) education, public service, and work-travel. In many ways, it felt like the job description was written just for me, so I had to apply.
Open to students entering their junior year of college, the Voyager Scholarship provides financial aid, meaningful travel, and a network of mentors and leaders to students passionate about public service. The scholarship includes up to $50,000 in “last dollar” financial aid for students’ final two years of undergrad, a $10,000 stipend and Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience, and upon graduation, an annual Airbnb travel stipend of $2,000 for ten years.
As a Program Associate, what has been your role? What have been some highlights of the program?
The Voyager Scholarship is just two years old, so my job requires a lot of creativity, strategic development, and problem-solving. While there was a base to work with when I started, the program is continuing to adapt based on lessons learned along the way. It’s exciting to be part of the building process, designs, and decisions that come along with that.
My absolute favorite part of the job is interacting with the students. I’ve said this before, and it still rings true: I am equally inspired by the change they want to create and touched by their personal journeys, especially when they share how much the scholarship means to them. Many students were working multiple jobs, relying on student loans, or simply unsure about their next steps before being selected for the Voyager Scholarship. I see so much of myself in them.
And finally, what is some general advice you can provide for our readers?
What I think has led to most (if not all) successes in my life is this: follow the breadcrumbs of happiness. Not everything I’ve done or decided to dive deeper into made sense at the time. I just knew there was something there that intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try. Somehow all the pieces added up, or made sense later, often in ways I couldn’t have known to expect.
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Lydia Grate works at the Obama Foundation as a Global Programs Associate for the Voyager Scholarship. Prior to this role, she spent more than eight years living overseas. Her travels began with the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa (2011-2013), and she continued her journey through work opportunities in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, France, New Zealand, and Australia. She also completed an international development fellowship in Madagascar. Lydia earned three concurrent Bachelor of Arts degrees from Arkansas Tech University in Broadcast Journalism, Public Relations, and Speech Communication, with minors in business and history. She completed her master’s degree from President Clinton’s School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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