On November 16, Jawaad Ali, was awarded a 2019 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide contest. The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. The Director of the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship Program, Lily Lopez-Mcgee PhD, stated, “We are truly thrilled and excited that Jawaad will be joining the Pickering Fellowship Program. He demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to service during his time at George Mason University. These experiences bode well for his success through graduate school and in the Foreign Service as well. I look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in his career.”
Jawaad served as a contractor for the Department of State Foreign ServiceInstitute, where he was a Consular Applications Training Instructor in the Consular Training Division. Jawaad was also a contractor at the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). At INL, Jawaad served as a Program Support Specialist within the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance and Partnership (CAP). There, he helped facilitate the implementation of criminal justice capacity building programs and foreign assistance programs. He plans to attend American University’s School of International Service (SIS), where he aspires to pursue the Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace and Human Rights.
The Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship will support Jawaad through a two-year graduate program to receive a master’s degree in an area relevant to the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. It will also provide extensive professional development opportunities, including internships, mentors, and skills training. As part of the Pickering Program, Jawaad will have an internship based in Washington, D.C. working with the U.S. Department of State in summer 2020. In the summer of 2021, the U.S. Department of State will send him overseas to work and to gain hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service. Upon graduation, Jawaad will become a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of service to his country. He will work to promote peace and prosperity around the world.
About the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, and administered by Howard University, that attracts and prepares outstanding young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State. It welcomes the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the State Department, women, and those with financial need. Based on the fundamental principle that diversity is a strength in our diplomatic efforts, the program values varied backgrounds, including ethnic, racial, social, and geographic diversity. The Pickering Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world. Upon successful completion of a two year master’s degree program and fulfillment of Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, D.C. and at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe.
More information can be found online at https://pickeringfellowship.org.
December 18, 2018