TWC Announces 2017 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows

April 4, 2018 The Washington Center

TWC Announces 2017 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is pleased to announce the selection of the 2017 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows – 10 Undergraduate Fellows and 20 Graduate Fellows. Hundreds of applicants from over 270 colleges and universities competed for this distinguished fellowship.

Managed and funded by the Department of State and administered by The Washington Center, the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate and Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship offers talented students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a career in the U.S Foreign Service. Consideration is given to qualified applicants who, in addition to outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement, demonstrate financial need. Women, members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and students with financial need are encouraged to apply.

Recipients of the Pickering Fellowship receive two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

The 2017 Pickering Fellows hail from 28 undergraduate and graduate institutions and 17 different states. Their majors range from International Affairs and History to Business and Economics. Collectively, they have participated in volunteering and service activities in Latin America, Central America, the Middle East, Far East, and Southeast Asia. Prior to becoming Fellows, they engaged in a wide range of fields, including academic research, local and federal government, private companies, international development, and NGOs.

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program honors one of the most accomplished U.S. Foreign Service Officers of the 20th century. Ambassador Pickering was appointed Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the U.S. Foreign Service. He served in many leading positions around the world during his Foreign Service career, including Ambassador to Nigeria, El Salvador, Israel, India and Russia. Ambassador Pickering concluded his career as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

The Washington Center is honored and excited to be administering such a distinguished program for the second year in a row.

Chris Norton
President of The Washington Center

The 24th Cohort of Pickering Undergraduate Fellows:

  • Ms. Taylor Cofield, University of Missouri - Columbia
  • Mr. Hassan Hassen, Dartmouth College
  • Mr. Aaron Huang, Rice University
  • Mr. Shobhit Kumar, Princeton University
  • Mr. David Leftwich, University of Pittsburgh
  • Mr. Andre Luu, University of California-Berkeley
  • Ms. Olivia Maigret, University of California-Berkeley
  • Ms. Monet Niesluchowski, Arizona State University
  • Ms. Kylie Lan Tumiatti, Seton Hall University
  • Ms. Kali Villarosa, Skidmore College

The 21st Cohort of Pickering Graduate Fellows:

  • Mr. Maximilian Aviles, McKendree University
  • Ms. Rohini, Bhaumik, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey New Brunswick Campus
  • Ms. Rausan Borujerdi, The City College of New York
  • Ms. Faith Fugar, The George Washington University
  • Ms. Marichuy Gomez, Smith College
  • Ms. Oleksandra Gubina, University of Missouri - Columbia
  • Mr. Ethan Kinney, Calvin College
  • Ms. Sierra Lekie, Kansas State University
  • Ms. Kamila Manzueta, Florida International University
  • Mr. Patrick Maxwell, Lebanon Valley College
  • Mr. Benjamin McIntosh, University of Oregon
  • Ms. Dung Nguyen, Wake Forest University
  • Ms. Tawni Sasaki, Knox College
  • Ms. Jennifer Shin, Boston College
  • Mrs. Rachel Simon, Mount Holyoke College
  • Ms. Caitlin Strawder, Florida State University
  • Mr. Dominick Tao, University of Florida
  • Ms. Terry-Ann Wellington, University of Texas at Austin
  • Mr. Juwan Woods, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Ms. Sarah Yee, The New School

Learn more about the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship Program and application process.

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The Washington Center

The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C. Since our founding, we've helped more than 60,000 individuals from across the U.S. and around the globe expand their academic pursuits into rewarding jobs and careers. We use our scale and expertise to deliver solutions that open career pathways for learners, solve recruitment challenges for employers, while helping create greater access, equity, advancement and representation.

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