Application Deadline: January 23, 2009
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program seeks to attract and educate outstanding young people who desire a career in the Foreign Service. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, these Fellowships prepare students to enter exciting and rewarding careers in public service as Foreign Service Officers. The Rangel Program encourages the involvement of members of minority groups and those with financial need. In this manner, it advances the goal of Secretary Rice and Congressman Rangel to create an excellent and diverse U.S. Foreign Service that represents the rich range of talents and expertise of the American people.
Each year, the Rangel Program selects 20 outstanding Rangel Fellows in a highly competitive nationwide process. These Fellows receive up to $32,500 annually in assistance for tuition, room, board and other related expenses for a two-year master’s degree in international affairs or a related topic. They also do internships at U.S. Embassies overseas and on Capitol Hill. Each Fellow is committed to a minimum of three years of service in an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer.
The Fellows’ experience begins with their selection in early spring of their senior year (or the spring prior to the fall in which they plan to start graduate studies, if they are graduates). Soon after selection, the Rangel Program identifies a State Department mentor to support them throughout their Fellowship and assists them in meeting State Department requirements for security and medical clearances. All new Fellows arrive in Washington in mid-May to participate in an orientation program that introduces them to the program and their Foreign Service career.
Fellows then begin Congressional Internships working for Members of Congress involved in international affairs for approximately eleven weeks. This internship provides them with a deeper understanding of the critical role of the legislative branch in U.S. foreign policy and the functioning of Capitol Hill. In addition, the Fellows take part in various meetings at Howard University and trips to institutions involved in international affairs to learn more about foreign policy formulation and implementation. They meet with State Department officials at many levels, as well as with representatives from other executive branch agencies, Capitol Hill, non-governmental organizations, and foreign diplomats. They visit institutions such as the Central Intelligence Agency, State Department and the World Bank. They also participate in activities to strengthen skills such as writing needed for their Foreign Service careers. The Rangel Program covers costs of travel, room and board and provides a stipend for the summer program.
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In mid-August, the Fellows disperse to attend graduate school in approved programs throughout the United States. Fellows must obtain master’s degrees in international affairs or a related subject, such as economics, history, political science, public administration, or public policy. They receive up to $32,500 annually in assistance for tuition, room, board, books and other related expenses. Currently, Rangel Fellows are doing graduate work in universities including Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Georgetown, Harvard, Yale, Tufts, Syracuse, American, George Washington, Denver, University of Texas, Austin, and the University of Pittsburgh. A number of universities provide supplemental financial assistance to any Rangel Fellow. Upon request, the Rangel Program will provide a list of these universities. Other universities provide financial assistance on a case-by-case basis.
In the summer between their first and second years of graduate school, Rangel Fellows participate in a 10-week internship at a U.S. Embassy overseas. Each internship experience is different, with Fellows working on a variety of issues and projects in different sections of the Embassies. In the past few years, Rangel Fellows have served in Nairobi, London, Tegucigalpa, Maseru, Luanda, Pretoria, Dakar, Singapore, Tokyo, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Kigali, Seoul, Hanoi, Singapore, Tiblisi, Moscow, Vienna, Guatemala City, Quito, Santo Domingo, Lima, La Paz, Nassau, Cairo, Tunis, Rabat, Muscat and Doha. Fellows report that the internship has a dramatic impact on them, providing them with hands-on knowledge of U.S. foreign policy, conditions in specific countries, and the work and lifestyle of the Foreign Service. It sharpens their professional focus and enhances their language and communication skills. The Rangel Program provides a stipend and expenses for this internship.
Returning to the United States, Fellows complete their graduate work, maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0 throughout their period of study. Upon successful completion of the Rangel Program and State Department entry requirements, Fellows receive an appointment to the Foreign Service, with a required three years of service.
The Rangel Fellowship, reflecting a collaborative effort between the State Department, Howard University, the U.S. Congress and universities nationwide, helps ensure a Foreign Service that represents the diversity of America and is second-to-none in its ability to promote U.S. interests throughout the world.
Additional information on the Rangel Fellowship program is available on www.howard.edu/rjb/rangelprogram.htm and from the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program at Howard University (202) 806-4367.
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