THE POSSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND COUNTING… Since 2001, POSSE SCHOLARS have won over 600 national fellowships including SOROS | MARSHALL | GATES TRUMAN | WATSON | KNIGHT-HENNESSY BEINECKE | DAVIS | FULBRIGHT THE POSSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM POSSE’S MISSION The Posse model works for both students and college campuses and is rooted in the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students—a Posse—carefully selected and trained, can serve as a catalyst for individual and community development. As the United States becomes an increasingly multicultural society, Posse believes that the leaders of the 21st century should reflect the country’s rich demographic mix. The key to a promising future for our nation rests on the ability of strong leaders from diverse backgrounds to develop consensus solutions to complex social problems. Posse’s primary aim is to train these leaders of tomorrow. THE POSSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Since 2001, the Posse Fellowship Program has matched Posse Scholars with national fellowships that recognize their talent and future potential to be the leaders of tomorrow. To date, Posse Scholars have won more than 600 national fellowships that include BOREN SCHOLARSHIP MELLON MAYS UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH UNDERGRADUATE DAVIS PROJECTS FOR PEACE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM PEACE CORPS GILMAN INTERNATIONAL CHARLES B. RANGEL INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AFFAIRS FELLOWSHIP KNIGHT-HENNESSY SCHWARZMAN SCHOLARS SCHOLARS PROGRAM THOMAS R. PICKERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP FELLOWSHIP MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM THOMAS J. WATSON FELLOWSHIP POSSE FELLOWSHIPS MELLON MAYS FELLOW Adrian Frias UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY POSSE LOS ANGELES SCHOLAR The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship aims to address underrepresentation in college and university faculties with support for promising future academics. Adrian’s Mellon Mays Fellowship research focuses on environmental justice. “BEING A MELLON MAYS FELLOW has taught me that I care deeply about issues of environmental and racial justice. I hope to become a researcher and educator, working at the intersection between urban geography, environmental justice, city/regional planning, writing, ethnic studies and education.” SCHWARZMAN SCHOLAR Bryan Stromer VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY POSSE NEW YORK ALUMNUS As a Schwarzman Scholar, Bryan will pursue graduate studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. He will focus on representation and inclusion of people with disabilities. “MY AIM IS TO EXAMINE THE ROLE THAT TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES can play in increasing the rate of employment of individuals with disabilities in China and how these companies can prioritize accessibility in their products.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS BOREN SCHOLAR Darien Price LAFAYETTE COLLEGE POSSE D.C. SCHOLAR As a Boren Scholar, Darien will travel to Peru to study Spanish and Quechua. The award supports critical language experiences in world regions underrepresented in study abroad. “INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE ONE OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES GLOBALLY and one of the most at risk because of climate change and violence. I hope that this work and my career will help me learn more about these cultures and the problems they face, so I can better advocate for them.” GILMAN SCHOLAR DeBorah Ault BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY POSSE ATLANTA SCHOLAR As a Gilman Scholar, DeBorah will travel to Chile with the School for International Training (SIT) to focus on comparative education and social change. The Gilman program supports American students in language and cultural studies in diverse regions across the globe. “I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ALL OF MY CLASSES IN SPANISH while creating an independent program focused on improving the Chilean education system. Living with a host family will help me learn about Chilean culture.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS MELLON MAYS FELLOW Francisco Rojas OBERLIN COLLEGE POSSE CHICAGO SCHOLAR The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship aims to address underrepresentation in college and university faculties with support for promising future academics. Francisco’s Mellon Mays Fellowship research focuses on Mexican migration to the U.S. “AS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS AND A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, college itself was uncharted territory for me. Now with the Mellon Mays I can conduct original research under the mentorship of incredible professors, building a project relevant to what I want to pursue in the future. It’s a path to a graduate degree and the opportunity to become a professor myself.” FULBRIGHT Ishan Bhatia HAMILTON COLLEGE POSSE BOSTON ALUMNUS Ishan’s Fulbright Study/Research grant to India will give him a chance to work at Tata Memorial Hospital, the largest cancer research hospital in Asia. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries. “IT’S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY to connect my previous research experience in cancer immunotherapy to my future career goals. I will use my Fulbright to develop a better understanding of global issues of healthcare. I chose to conduct research in India because I am of Indian descent and I want to make a difference in my cultural community, working on a topic that is meaningful to me.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOW Javier Weddington TRINITY COLLEGE POSSE CHICAGO ALUMNUS The NSF GRFP recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM. Javier received an NSF grant to support his doctoral studies in neuroscience at Stanford University. “MY RESEARCH AT STANFORD leverages the power of deep neural networks to get a finer understanding of how computations occur in the visual cortex. We can build models of visual stimuli and neural responses in the visual cortex to predict action-selection/visually guided behavior in animals.” GILMAN SCHOLAR FUND FOR EDUCATION ABROAD REACH THE WORLD TRAVELER Julie Niemyski MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE POSSE MIAMI SCHOLAR Julie received Gilman and Fund for Education Abroad grants to support her study abroad in Sweden. She was also selected as a Reach the World Traveler to connect with K-12 classrooms in the U.S. and encourage global study. “I AM ADOPTED AND I DIDN’T KNOW MY OWN ANCESTRAL BACKGROUND until a DNA test led me to Sweden. Studying abroad was the best way for me to learn as much as possible about the country and my background. Now with Reach the World, I’m teaching students about the possibilities they’ll have when they go to college.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS TILLMAN SCHOLAR Ricky Holder UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO POSSE VETERANS SCHOLAR The Pat Tillman Foundation selects remarkable service members, veterans and military spouses beginning their next chapter as public and private sector leaders. Ricky will pursue a law degree as a Tillman Scholar, aiming to focus on reform in the child welfare system as a public defender. “SEPARATING FROM THE U.S. MILITARY IS INHERENTLY A LONELY EXPERIENCE, especially when one is determined to continue in a career of public service. Becoming a Tillman Scholar allowed me to join a community of professionals dedicated to serving their respective communities, while also providing me with the key resources needed to continue my education.” GOLDWATER SCHOLAR TRUMAN SCHOLAR Savanna Toure LAFAYETTE COLLEGE POSSE D.C. SCHOLAR The Goldwater Scholarship Program identifies the next generation of research leaders in STEM fields. As a Goldwater Scholar, Savanna’s work focuses on health disparities and reproductive health for Black women. An additional Truman Scholarship will support her eventual pursuit of an M.D./Ph.D. program. “IT DEFINITELY OPENS DOORS. It doesn’t change where I want to go in life; it just reaffirms it. These awards validate everything I’m doing.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS FULBRIGHT Sydney Porter UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME POSSE NEW ORLEANS ALUMNA Sydney will travel to South Korea on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries. “I’M EXCITED AND READY TO USE THIS AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. It’s a great time for me to grow with my future students, inhabiting spaces that may not be as diverse as they could be while expanding my own horizons. Taking this leap feels like it fits right into Posse’s vision of changing the face of leadership.” PAYNE FELLOW Taina Perez FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE POSSE NEW YORK ALUMNA The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program supports outstanding individuals who are interested in careers in the Foreign Service. Taina’s Payne fellowship will help fund her master’s studies at the Yale School of the Environment. “BEING SELECTED FOR THE PAYNE FELLOWSHIP MEANT OVERCOMING GENERATIONAL BARRIERS to higher education, and opening up opportunities to make positive changes in international development. I hope to work on issues like climate change, which needs leaders who have diverse lived experiences to ensure creative, equitable and sustainable solutions.” POSSE FELLOWSHIPS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOW Tawfiq Alhamedi LAFAYETTE COLLEGE POSSE NEW YORK ALUMNUS The NSF GRFP recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM; Tawfiq plans to use his NSF grant to fund the dissertation phase of his graduate studies. “MY PROJECT IS INFORMED BY MY OWN FAMILY BACKGROUND, one that is not unique to me but representative of broader global experiences