The Council of American Ambassadors has established a fellowships program in cooperation with the Department of State to train young leaders in diplomacy and international affairs for service to the nation. Available to U.S. undergraduate students who have completed their junior year at an accredited U.S. college or university, the council fellowships program incorporates high-level mentoring by former U.S. ambassadors who are members of the council, Department internships and academic studies in international affairs at Georgetown University. The program awards each fellow $5,000, which is applied to the cost of the program.

The council recently inaugurated its cooperative program with the Department and welcomed its 2006 fellows at a reception at DACOR Bacon House. Former Ambassador Abelardo L. Valdez, vice chair of the council and co-chair with former Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch of the fellowships program, called the program a unique combination of practical training and academic study to develop young leaders in diplomacy and international affairs for service to the nation.

"On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its founding, the council's board of directors decided that the establishment of this program would be an appropriate way to share the experience and knowledge of its members with the next generation of American leaders," Ambassador Valdez said.

Ambassador George M. Staples, Director General of the Foreign Service, said the Department was pleased to cooperate with the Council of American Ambassadors in the program.

"We need more leaders who can help us to conduct America's foreign relations in these challenging times," Ambassador Staples said. As part of the program, the fellows receive valuable advice from former U.S. ambassadors who are members of the council and who serve as mentors, meeting the fellows on a regular basis to discuss international affairs issues and careers.

Practical training at the Department of State complements the mentorship. As part of the council-State collaborative effort, Council fellows obtain internships at the Department where they gain important experience and receive guidance from active members of the Foreign Service.

"Thanks to the strong support from Director General Staples, his predecessor Ambassador W. Robert Pearson and Director of Recruitment Diane Castiglione, the council is able to include this key experience as part of its overall program," said Ambassador Valdez.

The third element of the fellowships program is academic study. During their 10-week summer program, council fellows, through an agreement with The Fund for American Studies, pursue courses in international politics and comparative economic systems at Georgetown University and reside in campus housing. Ambassador Bloch pointed out that the fellows earn academic credit for their course work, another important benefit that underscores the program's comprehensive approach to international affairs training.

Fellows are chosen through a rigorous selection process based on academic and extracurricular achievement, a strong commitment to a career in international affairs, leadership skills and writing talent as evidenced by course work and an essay on international affairs submitted as part of the program's application requirements.

Foreign language study, diversity and the applicant's work ethic and sense of responsibility as measured by academic and employment experience are key factors in the selection process.

The following individuals are the council's 2006 fellows:

• Evan Hill, who is majoring in journalism with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University. Evan is interning in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and his mentors are former Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch (Nepal and Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development); Timothy A. Chorba (Singapore); and Robert D. Stuart Jr. (Norway).
• James Madsen, who is majoring in Political Science with a focus on International Relations at Stanford University. James is interning in the Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, and his mentors are former Ambassadors Timothy L. Towell (Paraguay) and Abelardo L. Valdez (U.S. Chief of Protocol and Assistant Administrator, USAID).
• Meghan Mahoney, who is majoring in International Studies and Economics at American University. Meghan is interning in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, and her mentors are former Ambassadors G. Philip Hughes (Barbados and Eastern Caribbean) and Thomas Patrick Melady (Burundi, Uganda and the Holy See).
• Aisha Sabar, who is majoring in Political Science and Arabic at Washington University in St. Louis. Aisha is interning in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and her mentors are former Ambassadors Patricia Gates Lynch Ewell (Madagascar and Comoros) and Stuart A. Holliday (U.S. Mission to the United Nations).

"It is hoped that the council's fellowships program, with its potent combination of mentoring, practical training and academic study, will inspire and prepare the fellows to assume the responsibility of helping America to strengthen alliances and promote democracy, peace, human rights and prosperity in her relations with other countries around the world," Amb. Valdez said.

Funded during the first three years of its operation with contributions from council members and friends, the council's fellowships program was given a major boost in late August, when the Annenberg Foundation awarded a grant of $500,000 in the name of Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg. The late Walter Annenberg served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s and Leonore Annenberg served as the U.S. Chief of Protocol.