Global Ties U.S., in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Alumni Affairs, is thrilled to announce the inaugural cohort of the U.S. ExchangeAlumni Fellowship. Launching this month, this innovative nine-month professional development and networking program will engage six Fellows to serve as regional advocates for international exchange programs and foster the growth of U.S. ExchangeAlumni networks across the country.
Fellows will organize and manage outreach to local alumni, build vibrant regional networks across U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, and inspire local communities to participate in these life-changing opportunities. The six Fellows represent different regions across the United States, with one Fellow located in Washington, DC to help support and coordinate nationwide efforts. Together, they will champion the importance of international exchange and citizen diplomacy in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals.
We congratulate and welcome the six inaugural U.S. ExchangeAlumni Fellows:
- Sofia Boyd (Ohio)
Great Lakes Regional Fellow
Alumni, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
- John Donnella (Pennsylvania)
Mid-Atlantic Regional Fellow
Alumni, Fulbright U.S. Scholar and Fulbright Specialist program
- Anesce Dremen (Nevada)
Mountain West Regional Fellow
Alumni, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship; Critical Language Scholarship; and Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programs
- Tejeswara Reddy (Texas)
Southwest Regional Fellow
Alumni, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program
- Hannah Grace Garrett (Oregon)
Pacific Regional Fellow
Alumni, Eurasian Regional Language Program; Expo 2017 Astana Student Ambassador; and National Security Language Initiative for Youth
- Eloah Makassi (Virginia)
Washington, DC Regional Fellow
Alumni, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Abroad
“We are excited to welcome the inaugural cohort of U.S. ExchangeAlumni Fellows,” said Katherine A. Brown, Ph.D., President & CEO of Global Ties U.S. “As the national leader in connecting people and communities through exchange programs, Global Ties U.S. believes that diplomacy begins here, with all of us. These six Fellows will inspire their communities, strengthen alumni networks, and build on their own exchange experiences to support the next generation of exchange participants.”
The U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship is a testament to the lasting impact of international exchange programs and their alumni. “Exchange programs do not end when participants return home,” said Madelina Young-Smith, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Alumni Affairs. “This Fellowship provides an exciting opportunity for alumni to intentionally grow strong alumni networks, raise awareness about U.S. exchange opportunities, and inspire future participants to explore the world and bring their experiences back to support their communities.”
With more than 500,000 U.S. ExchangeAlumni nationwide, this Fellowship program is a significant step in harnessing the collective power of alumni to strengthen communities, build connections, and promote citizen diplomacy across the United States. We look forward to sharing the accomplishments of this cohort in the months ahead.
In addition to the U.S. ExchangeAlumni Fellowship, the partnership with the Office of Alumni Affairs includes Career Connections seminars, the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF), and the Alumni Resource Center (ARC).
More Information
Global Ties U.S. is the national leader for connecting people and communities in the United States with global leaders through international exchange programs. Since 1961, Global Ties U.S. has powered a community-based network of 80+ nonprofit organizations that serve all 50 U.S. States and implement the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a wide variety of other international exchange and public diplomacy programs. The work of Global Ties U.S. advances U.S. strategic priorities abroad and boosts prosperity at home by harnessing the diplomatic potential of our country’s greatest asset: our people.
The Office of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs: The Office of Alumni Affairs cultivates and extends the impact of U.S. government funded and sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs through continued engagement with alumni of these programs. This dynamic global network of millions of ExchangeAlumni includes current and former heads of state, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Olympic athletes, award-winning artists, and untold numbers of community leaders and changemakers around the world.
The Office of Alumni Affairs collaborates with U.S. embassies and consulates abroad to leverage the expertise, energy, and enthusiasm of exchange alumni in support of shared goals. Domestically, The Office of Alumni Affairs works with implementing partners to support U.S. citizen alumni in leveraging the impact of their exchange experience after returning to the United States. Every day, exchange alumni make a difference in their communities and around the world, in health care, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, volunteerism, the democratic process, technology, and much more.