Meet Rangel Fellows
2021 Fellows
Sarah
Ahmed
Sarah Ahmed
2021 Rangel Fellow
Sarah Ahmed, who hails from Maryland, graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2019 with a BA in Anthropology. With a strong commitment to public service, she worked at the United Nations Foundation as a Gender and Markets intern and for several NGOs. She was born in Pakistan, lived briefly in the U.A.E, and studied abroad in Ireland. Her language skills include fluency in Urdu and working proficiency of Hindi. Sarah will be attending George Washington University for her graduate studies.
Nicholas
Albright
Nicholas Albright
2021 Rangel Fellow
Nicholas Albright, from Auburn, Alabama, graduated in May 2021 from Morehouse College, where he majored in International Studies and minored in Economics. During his undergraduate studies, he interned at the Liberian Consulate in Georgia and studied abroad in London. Outside of the classroom, he was a member of his school’s Speech and Debate Team and participated in multiple Model United Nations Conferences. He studied Spanish and Mandarin. He is interested in the Consular and Public Diplomacy career tracks in the Foreign Service. In the fall, Nicholas will join the School of International Service at American University.
Erica
Alexander
Erica Alexander
2021 Rangel Fellow
Erica Alexander is from Memphis, Tennessee and graduated in 2019 from Georgia State University, where she studied Global Studies. With an interest in East Asia, Erica studied abroad in Korea twice and interned with the USAID Asia Bureau. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Erica taught English in Daejeon, South Korea. She currently serves as the HQ Social Media Manager for Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated’s national headquarters. She speaks Korean and Spanish. She hopes to become a Public Diplomacy Officer in the Foreign Service. She will pursue her graduate studies at George Washington University.
Charlotte Armistead
Charlotte Armistead
2021 Rangel Fellow
Charlotte Armistead, who grew up in rural Mississippi, graduated in May 2021 from the University of Mississippi. She has studied in Jordan twice, speaks several Arabic dialects, and has worked on legislation calling for the relocation of a confederate statue at her university. Professionally, Charlotte has completed internships with Done By Native at the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, The Defense and Security Program at the Middle East Institute, and the U.S. Embassy to Yemen. She is an Arabic speaker interested in the Political career track. Charlotte will be pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy degree at Harvard University.
Radhika
Arora
Radhika Arora
2021 Rangel Fellow
Radhika Arora is a proud Indian-American from Chandler, Arizona. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and studied business administration and Arabic. She was an intern at the Department of State’s Office of Iraqi Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Jordan through the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program. Radhika currently works in Deloitte Consulting LLP’s Government & Public Services Practice. She hopes to become an Economic or Public Diplomacy Officer and has varying levels of proficiency in Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, and Korean. She will be attending University of Michigan for her graduate studies.
Houssaynatou Barry
Houssaynatou Barry
2021 Rangel Fellow
Houssaynatou Barry hails from Staten Island, New York, and is a first-generation Guinean-American. She attended City University of New York (CUNY) John Jay College of Criminal Justice and graduated with a degree in Public Administration. She was a 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantee to Ghana where she conducted research on the effects of free education on girls living in less privileged communities. She hopes to work as a Public Diplomacy Officer. Houssaynatou is fluent in Pular and French. Houssaynatou will be joining American University’s School of International Service in the fall.
Hermanoschy Bernard
Hermanoschy Bernard
2021 Rangel Fellow
Hermanoschy Bernard acquired a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from Baruch College School of Public and International Affairs. He completed several internships in government and nonprofit organizations and studied abroad in Thailand to explore Thai culture, language, and government. He currently works in the NYC Young Men’s Initiative, Mayor’s Office. Bernard speaks Haitian Creole and French, and has some proficiency in Central Thai. In the fall, Hermanoschy will attend Columbia University.
Mikah
Bertelmann
Mikah Bertelmann
2021 Rangel Fellow
Mikah Bertelmann, from Kailua, Hawaii, graduated in May 2021 from Lewis and Clark College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and International Political Economy. As an undergraduate student, Mikah studied abroad in Siena, Italy and volunteered with Oxfam International. He has also interned with the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. His languages include Spanish, Italian, and Hawaiian. Mikah will pursue his graduate studies at University of California, San Diego.
Amyre
Brandom
Amyre Brandom-Skinner
2021 Rangel Fellow
Amyre Brandom-Skinner is from Detroit, Michigan and earned her degree in Mass Communication from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 2021. She worked with the New Orleans Citizens Diplomacy Council, Xavier University’s Confucius Institute and Center for Intercultural and International Programs, and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. Amyre is interested in working as a Public Diplomacy officer and she is proficient in Spanish and American Sign Language. She will be attending Columbia University for her graduate degree.
Briah
Bass
Briah Bass
2021 Rangel Fellow
Briah Bass is from Buford, Georgia and studied at Boston University, where she majored in International Relations. While at Boston University, she participated in several cultural clubs and studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. Briah developed a strong interest in learning about other cultures following her first international experience doing volunteer work in Guatemala during high school. She has over eight years of experience in Spanish and studies Arabic. Briah will attend American University’s School of International Service for her graduate studies.
Tiffany
Brown
Tiffany Brown
2021 Rangel Fellow
Tiffany Brown is a Warner Robins, Georgia native who graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia. Tiffany completed a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant to Colombia and spent two years working as a Princeton in Latin America Fellow in the Dominican Republic. She is fluent in Spanish and has studied Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Tiffany is passionate about facilitating meaningful cross-cultural interactions and intends to pursue the Public Diplomacy career track. She will be attending Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Allison
Chen
Allison Chen
2021 Rangel Fellow
Allison Chen is from Chandler, Arizona and graduated in May 2021 from Yale University where she double majored in Economics and Political Science. She interned at U.S. Embassy Beijing and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Allison has also interned at Love146 conducting research for preventative sex trafficking education in Africa. Her languages include Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and French. In the fall, Allison will pursue her graduate degree at Columbia University.
Angela
Chin
Angela Chin
2021 Rangel Fellow
Angela Chin is from Prince George’s County, Maryland and earned her Bachelor’s in Public Policy and Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a 2018 Rangel Scholar and 2019 PPIA Fellow. She has worked for the Sudan and South Sudan programs of the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Brookings Center of Middle East Policy, and the U.S. Census Bureau. Angela has studied abroad in Jordan and Ecuador and has working proficiency in Spanish and Arabic. She will be attending Georgetown University.
Yookyung (Sandra) Chung
Yookyung (Sandra) Chung
2021 Rangel Fellow
Yookyung (Sandra) Chung was born in Anyang, South Korea and grew up in New Jersey and Georgia. Sandra studied International Relations with a focus in East Asia and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley College. During her undergraduate studies she interned at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor-East Asia and Pacific region and the U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang. Sandra’s languages include Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and Mandarin. She will be pursuing her graduate degree at the Fletcher School of Tufts University.
Carolina
Cortez
Carolina Cortez
2021 Rangel Fellow
Carolina Cortez was raised in Sutter Creek, California, and received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Carolina relocated to Washington, D.C., working in the U.S. Senate for Vice President Kamala Harris and as a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals Fellow. She worked for an NGO in Mexico, and she speaks both Spanish and German. She plans to pursue a career as an Economic Officer. Carolina will join Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Katarina de la Rosa
Katarina de la Rosa
2021 Rangel Fellow
Katarina de la Rosa is an El Paso, Texas native interested in international economic development. Katarina holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science with a double minor in sociology and sustainability studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked within the U.S. government, the private sector, and with international and regional non-profits in Guatemala, Iceland, Kenya, Mexico, and Panama. She is fluent in Spanish and knows some Portuguese. In the fall, Katarina will pursue her Master’s in Public Policy degree at Harvard University.
Landon Fortenberry
Landon Fortenberry
2021 Rangel Fellow
Landon Fortenberry hails from Muskegon, Michigan and has Bachelor’s degrees in Chinese and International Relations from Michigan State University. He has worked as a congressional intern at the Michigan Capitol, a tutor with Americorps, and an Intercultural Aide at Michigan State University. He was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Brazil and a Boren Scholar to China. He hopes to pursue a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs. He speaks English, Mandarin, and Portuguese. Landon will attend Harvard University in the fall.
Brittni
Foster
Brittni Foster
2021 Rangel Fellow
Brittni Foster is a proud Jamaican American with southern roots who hails from the Southside of Chicago. She attended Tufts University and graduated in Spring 2021 with degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations with an Identity concentration. Brittni studied abroad in Germany, Morocco, and Russia, and holds varying proficiency in German, Arabic, and Russian. In graduate school, Brittni hopes to expand her regional interests to include both the Middle East and Eastern Europe and focus her studies on the contexts of international law, development, and energy. Brittni will be attending Georgetown University for her graduate studies.
Sophia
Fulton
Sophia Fulton
2021 Rangel Fellow
Sophia Fulton is a proud Laotian American from Minnesota. She is a Spring 2021 graduate of Baylor University majoring in Arabic, Economics, and Finance. She interned for the Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon through the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program. Sophia studied abroad in Morocco and most recently worked as a National Security and Intelligence Analysis Intern for the Institute for the Study of War. Sophia has studied Arabic and French. She is interested in the intersections between security and economic policy in the Foreign Service. In the fall, Sophia will be attending Columbia University.
Alejandro Garcia
Escobar Plascencia
Alejandro Garcia Escobar Plascencia
2021 Rangel Fellow
Alejandro Garcia Escobar Plascencia is a graduating senior at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service majoring in Culture and Politics. He is from Libertyville, Illinois. Alejandro has had the chance to study in Germany, Cambodia, and Rwanda, and is fluent in Spanish and proficient in German. He hopes to become a Political Officer in the Foreign Service. Alejandro will be pursuing his graduate degree at Harvard University.
Bezakulu
Gebru
Bezakulu (Beza) Gebru
2021 Rangel Fellow
Bezakulu (Beza) Gebru is from Metro Phoenix, Arizona and in 2015 graduated from the University of Arizona with a double major in Geography and Anthropology. As an undergraduate, Beza studied abroad in Morocco as a Gilman Scholar and interned at Arizona State Legislature and at the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. She is interested in nation building and U.S. immigration policy. Beza speaks Amharic and Arabic. She will be attending American University in the fall.
Fana Haile Selassie
Fana Ruth Haile Selassie
2021 Rangel Fellow
Fana Ruth HaileSelassie was born in Nairobi, Kenya and grew up in Durham, North Carolina. She is a graduating senior at Spelman College pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. While at Spelman, she established a professional network for students through the non-profit organization Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security (WCAPS). Traveling abroad to China, Spain, and Sweden solidified her intention to pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer. Fana will pursue her graduate studies at Georgetown University.
Taylor
Hinch
Taylor Hinch
2021 Rangel Fellow
Taylor Hinch of Birmingham, AL, is a senior Presidential Scholar at Villanova University who will earn two Honors Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Peace and Justice. As a Gilman Scholar, Taylor completed a study and internship program in Dublin, Ireland, where she conducted research on consociational democracy and improving community relations in Northern Ireland. She also studied at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She plans to pursue a career as a Political Foreign Service Officer and will be attending Columbia University.
Korde
Inniss
Korde Inniss
2021 Rangel Fellow
Korde Inniss is an Air Force veteran and graduate of Morehouse College from Valley Stream, New York. While attending Morehouse College he participated in the Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program, which motivated him to serve in the Foreign Service upon completion of his military commitment. He served in the Air Force as an Intelligence Officer and Combat Aviation Advisor. In his capacity as a Combat Aviation Advisor, he advised partner nation forces in both Malaysia and Panama. Korde has a language background in Spanish and French. He will attend Harvard University for his graduate studies.
John
Iosefo
John Iosefo
2021 Rangel Fellow
John Iosefo is originally from American Samoa and was a student studying Politics at the University of San Francisco. John served as President of the undergraduate student Senate and interned on Capitol Hill with the office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata Colemen Radewagen. He studied abroad at the John Felice Rome Center of the Loyola University Chicago and participated in the USF Erasmus program. John is fluent in Samoan. In the fall, he will attend Georgetown University.
Idia
Irele
Idia Irele
2021 Rangel Fellow
Idia Irele is a Nigerian-American global education professional. She received her Bachelor’s from Smith College in Government and International Politics and holds an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in International Education Policy. She worked as Director of Curriculum and Strategic Relations Manager at the Latin American Leadership Academy in Medellin, Colombia. Idia served as a Fulbright Fellow in Andorra in 2016. She has studied Mandarin for eight years and speaks Yoruba, Spanish, and some Portuguese. In the fall, Idia will join the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.
James (Lowell) Jackson
James Lowell Jackson
2021 Rangel Fellow
James Lowell Jackson was born in the Philippines and grew up in Ithaca, New York. He received a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 2017. As an undergraduate, he participated in the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Indonesia, served as the TA for a Vietnam Engaged Learning Program, and interned for a labor NGO in Hanoi, Vietnam. He currently works for the New Conversations Project at Cornell University. Lowell speaks Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, French, and some Vietnamese. He will be attending Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Tatum
James
Tatum James
2021 Rangel Fellow
Tatum James was born and raised in the small town of Fountain Hills, Arizona. She is a first-generation college student and graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2020 with degrees in Global Studies and Spanish Linguistics. Tatum studied abroad with the Balkan Language Initiative in Albania and later received the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to represent the United States in Spain. In Fall 2021, she will embark on a Fulbright grant to North Macedonia and upon her return she hopes to pursue a Master’s in Public Diplomacy or International Development. Tatum speaks Spanish, Albanian, and some Portuguese.
Isaac
Kim
Isaac Kim
2021 Rangel Fellow
Isaac Kim is originally from Northbrook, Illinois and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Politics and a certificate in African Studies. Currently, he serves as a Princeton in Africa Fellow with the Kenya Country Program of the International Rescue Committee. Isaac worked as an external relations intern for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, at the Lalibela Game Reserve in South Africa, and for Senator Tammy Duckworth. His languages include French, Korean, and Kiswahili. Isaac will attend the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University in the fall.
Zizhan
Luo
Zizhan Luo
2021 Rangel Fellow
Zizhan Luo was born in Wuhan, China and raised in Oregon, Vermont, and New Jersey. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in International Studies from American University. Zizhan studied abroad at the University of Oxford and was a 2019 Fulbright Scholar to China. She has interned with the Wilson Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Defense Fund, Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana. She currently works in the field of sustainable finance. Fluent in Mandarin, with a background in French and Spanish, Zizhan plans to serve as an Economic Officer in the Foreign Service. She will be attending Harvard University to obtain her Master in Public Policy degree.
Misbah
Nauman
Mikah Bertelmann
2021 Rangel Fellow
Mikah Bertelmann, from Kailua, Hawaii, graduated in May 2021 from Lewis and Clark College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and International Political Economy. As an undergraduate student, Mikah studied abroad in Siena, Italy and volunteered with Oxfam International. He has also interned with the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. His languages include Spanish, Italian, and Hawaiian. Mikah will pursue his graduate studies at University of California, San Diego.
Dan (Tammy) Nguyen
Dan (Tammy) Nguyen
2021 Rangel Fellow
Dan (Tammy) Nguyen is a proud Vietnamese-American from Da Nang, Vietnam. She graduated from American University in 2021, where she studied International Relations and served as Editor-In-Chief of the undergraduate research journal. While in college, Tammy studied Russian as a Gilman Scholar in St. Petersburg, Russia. She was also an Undergraduate Fellow for The Peace and Security Funders Group and The Truman National Security Project. Tammy speaks Russian and is fluent in Vietnamese. She will pursue her Master in Public Policy degree at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.
Cierra
Powell
Cierra Powell
2021 Rangel Fellow
Cierra Powell was born in Miles City, Montana and graduated in 2018 from Carroll College. She earned two Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Spanish with a minor in Latin American Studies. Cierra studied abroad in Seville, Spain and conducted independent research in Ecuador as a 2017 Gilman Scholar. After graduating, she served as a Gilman Alumni Ambassador and 2019-2020 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the Canary Islands. Cierra speaks Spanish and is learning Catalan. She will attend Pennsylvania State University for her graduate studies.
Christina
Presmy
Christina Jane Presmy
2021 Rangel Fellow
Christina Jane Presmy is a proud Haitian-American from Fort Myers, Florida. She attended Florida A&M University and graduated in May 2021 with her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Disaster Management. Christina has interned with USAID as a Countering Violent Extremism Intern, the Red Cross as a Disaster Workforce Engagement Intern, studied abroad in Ghana, and is a Take Stock in Children Scholar. Christina speaks Haitian-Creole and is learning Akan Twi. In the fall, she will attend Webster University.
Jayaram
Ravi
Jayaram Ravi
2021 Rangel Fellow
Jayaram Ravi grew up near Seattle and attended Stanford University, majoring in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and Human Rights. He interned with Freedom House, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and on Capitol Hill. He is a 2017 Rangel Scholar. After graduating, Jayaram joined the Treasury Department’s International Affairs Office. His experience at the Treasury Department inspired his interest in becoming an Economic Officer. He speaks Spanish and Tamil. Jayaram will be pursuing his graduate degree at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.
Jhoalmo
Sibrian
Jhoalmo A. Sibrian
2021 Rangel Fellow
Jhoalmo A. Sibrian is a Salvadoran-American immigrant. He graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) where he concentrated in Security and Diplomacy. He served in Colombia for two years as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and was a 2016 Rangel Scholar. As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Jhoalmo worked at Brookings and is now at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. As a future FSO, he plans to continue to address the inequities and systematic barriers in multicultural societies while implementing U.S. foreign policy. Jhoalmo will attend Harvard University for his graduate degree.
Kayla
Smith
Dilek
Tas
Ashley
Towers
Ashley Towers
2021 Rangel Fellow
Ashley Towers is from New York and served as Military Police in the Army National Guard as a combat Veteran. She attended The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, double majoring in Intelligence & Security Studies and Criminal Justice. She has worked as a contractor at the Department of Homeland Security National Infrastructure Coordinating Center. Ashley speaks Spanish and Russian. Ashley will be attending Yale University.
Jane
Viviano
Jane Viviano
2021 Rangel Fellow
Jane Viviano was raised in northeast Florida and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies. Jane has studied, worked, and taught English in Jordan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Morocco through the Boren, Gilman, Critical Language Scholarship, Rotary Youth Exchange, and Fulbright Programs. Jane currently works as a Program Officer with the National Security Education Program at the Department of Defense and speaks Arabic and Turkish. She will pursue her graduate studies at University of Texas at Austin.
Cassia
Waligora
Cassia Waligora
2021 Rangel Fellow
Cassia Waligora was born in Chiangmai, Thailand and grew up in southwest China and Virginia. She earned a B.A. in International Relations and Mandarin Chinese at Wheaton College (IL) this year. Cassia has interned in the Executive Office of the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, was a Boren Scholar to Shanghai, China, and was selected for the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP). Cassia is fluent in Mandarin, and she hopes to serve as a Public Diplomacy Officer. She will be attending Georgetown University in the fall.
Jacqueline White Menchaca
Jacqueline White Menchaca
2021 Rangel Fellow
Jacqueline White Menchaca is a proud Mexican-American from Tucson, Arizona. She received a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Public Service from Arizona State University. Jacqueline was a Staff Assistant for Congressman Ruben Gallego and is now working for the Department of State in the Bureau for Consular Affairs. She attended the McCain Institute for International Leadership, interned with The German Marshall Fund, and studied in Ecuador through Rotary Youth Exchange. She also studied Swahili and worked at Search for Common Ground as a Boren Scholar in Tanzania. Her languages include Spanish, Swahili, and French. Jacqueline will pursue a Master in Public Policy at Harvard University.
Lilah
Wilder
Lilah Wilder
2021 Rangel Fellow
Lilah Wilder grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2019 with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Global & International Studies and French, with Middle Eastern Studies minor. She became a FLAS Fellow for Arabic study and interned at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She speaks French, Spanish, and Arabic. Lilah plans to join the U.S. Foreign Service as a Public Diplomacy Officer. She will be joining the School of International Service at American University.
Ngai Kay (Rachel) Wong
Rachel Wong
2021 Rangel Fellow
Rachel Wong, born in Hong Kong and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Macalester College in 2019. She majored in International Studies with Geography and Asian Studies minors. After graduating, Rachel received a Fulbright Fellowship as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. She now works for the National Democratic Institute on the Asia-Pacific Team and volunteers as the Communications Director for Fulbright Lotus. Rachel speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and some Korean. In the fall, she will start her graduate studies at Georgetown University.
Jamie
Wu
Jamie Wu
2021 Rangel Fellow
Jamie Wu was born in New York City but spent her early years in rural China and Puerto Rico. She attended Williams College and graduated with degrees in History, Comparative Literature and French. Jamie moved to the Taiwanese island of Kinmen as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grantee. Following her grant, she has interned at a national immigration think-tank and volunteered with a 2021 mayoral campaign. Jamie speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, French, and Spanish. She will pursue her graduate studies at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.
2020 Fellows
Santiago Rios
Santiago Rios
2020 Rangel Fellow
Abiding interest in other cultures and a commitment to public service has guided 2020 U.S. Department of State Rangel Fellow Santiago Rios’ path.
Santiago was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 8 and grew up in different cities throughout Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, receiving a B.A. in Government and Politics in 2019. During college, Santiago interned for legislative offices at the state and federal level. He also worked for CASA de Maryland and HOPE Worldwide to gain experience in the development world. The latter included leading sustainable service trips in Bolivia and Nepal with large volunteer groups of all ages.
He cemented his desire for the Foreign Service while interning in the Consular Affairs section in Madrid, Spain, “It’s special to begin a career of service to the United States and its people. I am thrilled for the opportunity to promote U.S. ideals and interests abroad.”Santiago applied for and received a 2020 Rangel Fellowship.
“Witnessing the important work that diplomats do for our country while I interned at the U.S. Embassy in Spain showed me that a career in the Foreign Service was not only one of adventure but also one of impact.”Through the Rangel Fellowship, Santiago is receiving funding to obtain a master’s degree in international affairs at the School of Global Policy Strategy at the University of California San Diego. He picked this program because “it provides specific attention to the Pacific region and introduces me to a part of the country that would have otherwise been completely unfamiliar to me.”
In 2021, Santiago will spend the summer completing his overseas internship at a U.S. embassy or consulate. He will complete his graduate degree in spring 2022 and will enter the Foreign Service that summer. He plans to become a Consular Officer in the Foreign Service, assisting Americans overseas, and facilitating travel and promoting security by adjudicating visas for those wanting to come to the United States. “I hope to provide meaningful service to both U.S. citizens and visa applicants throughout my career,” he says, “Regardless of where in the world I serve, I look forward to learning from other cultures and faithfully representing the United States.”
2014 Fellows
DeEtta Cravens
DEETTA CRAVENS
2014 Rangel Fellow | 2010 Rangel Scholar
2013 Fellows
William L. McIlwain, IV
William L. McIlwain, IV
2013 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Raised in the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield, Ohio, William L. McIlwain, IV became involved in local politics and government at a young age. In his hometown of Fairfield he represented the student body as the youth participant of the city council and school board. His interest in government and foreign languages led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs with minors in French and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cincinnati.
He spent the majority of his undergraduate career studying abroad. He studied and conducted research in Morocco, Tunisia, Haiti, the United Arab Emirates, and France. As an undergraduate, William became a recipient of the university’s highest honor, the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence. He also is an alumnus of various nationally competitive scholarships and awards such as the Gilman Scholarship and the Clinton Foundation Scholarship to study in the UAE.
In 2013, William was selected as a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellow. The award prompted him to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration at Florida International University and was a pathway into diplomacy. As a Rangel Fellow, William worked in the Office of Congressman Charles B. Rangel and Embassy Santo Domingo.
He has stated that his internship experiences in both the Office of Congressman Rangel and U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo were very intense in a very good way. On the Hill, William has his first exposure to interacting with the press. The internship gave him exposure to something he would have never considered. During his internship in Santo Domingo, William worked with the management section. At the time, the Embassy was going through one of the most challenging managerial tasks: moving into a new embassy. He stated that gaining that type of exposure and experience is priceless, especially for someone who would become a management-coned officer.
He officially entered the Foreign Service with the U.S. Department of State in the summer of 2015. His diplomatic commission is signed by President Barack Obama. He served as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, and Washington, DC. He speaks French and Arabic.
Asked how he hopes to make a difference as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, William stated, “I hope to show a different perspective on what it is to be American and a diplomat to the world. In places where there isn’t as much American tourism or exposure, the reputation of who and what is an American is skewed by limited media and often harsh stereotypes. Showcasing our diversity on a local level is important because it impacts diplomacy on a human level. Different backgrounds mean different perspectives.”
Will is pursuing a career and lifestyle that he finds enriching and challenging and is giving back to the nation and world community through his work.
2012 Fellows
Abdel Perera
Abdel Perera
2012 Rangel Fellow
2012 Rangel Fellow Abdel Perera hails from the vibrant and diverse city of Miami, Florida. Migrating from Cuba as a child, Abdel learned at an earlier age about the challenges of adjusting to a new culture. He grew up grateful to be an American and with a desire to serve the nation. His interest in the Foreign Service was ignited by the stories of a State Department Diplomat in Residence teaching at his college, Florida International University. He notes that, “Beyond the interesting class lectures, guest speakers from the diplomatic corps, and in-field anecdotes from our professor, what attracted me most about a career in the Foreign Service was an opportunity to serve overseas, to work for U.S. interests, and to work in a dynamic world where there is never a boring day!”
Abdel prepared for his career through his studies of U.S. foreign policy, Latin American issues, and human rights at Florida International University. He traveled to Thailand to work at an orphanage and in disadvantaged communities; worked with an NGO in Honduras to build a classroom in an underprivileged community; and did internships in U.S. Embassy Montevideo, U.S. Embassy Lima and the State Department Office of Conflict Prevention. The outstanding experiences he had in his State Department internships confirmed his commitment to a Foreign Service career.
Abdel joined the Rangel Program in 2012 as a pathway to the Foreign Service. Through the program, he earned a Master’s Degree from American University School of International Service in 2014; served as an intern with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, then member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and did an internship in the Political/Economic Section in Mumbai, India. Asked about his most memorable moment, he cited his work supporting the visit of Vice President Biden to India for the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue. Abdel assisted in organizing a business round table, participated in the logistics for the visit, and even met the Vice President. “Shaking the hand of the Vice President was surreal, and as an intern I confess I was star-struck. Being part of the team that welcomed the V.P. to Mumbai was a memorable experience.”
Now a Foreign Service Officer serving in Buenos Aires, Abdel remains close to the 2012 Rangel Fellows and the entire program. He notes, “The Rangel Program is family, and that is what I value most about my experience with the fellowship. I have made lifelong friends, mentors and colleagues, whom I can call upon for advice and grow together as professionals. I value that I can serve as a beacon of hope for other immigrants who need that extra push to join a dynamic career. The Rangel Program changed my life.”
Abdel currently lives in Buenos Aires with his wife Liliana. He is a Consular Officer in the Foreign Service and is passionate about helping U.S. citizens overseas, facilitating international travel and business, and protecting U.S. borders. He is excited by the Foreign Service’s emphasis on career-long learning and the opportunity to meet new people, study new languages, and immerse himself in diverse cultures. While he is open to worldwide service, he hopes to serve extensively in Latin America where he wants to foster strong relations between the United States and nations in the hemisphere and work to build “stronger civil societies, businesses, and institutions.”
2011 Fellows
Salvador Molina
Salvador Molina
2011 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Born and raised in Lodi, California, Salvador’s path to the Foreign Service included time spent in the Marines, including as a Marine Security Guard at U.S. Embassies. He explains, “I joined the U.S. Marines right after high school and served as a Marine embassy guard in Mozambique and Italy for the final three years of my enlistment. This first exposure to the Foreign Service piqued my interest in a career with the State Department, as I felt the career would provide a sense of involvement with world affairs, while providing the same sense of service I felt from my time in the military.”
Salvador is a first generation American with immigrant parents from Mexico and is the first in his family to graduate from college. He graduated from the University of California in Berkeley in 2009 with a degree in history, and with the support of the Rangel Program, completed a Master’s in International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Salvador credits the Rangel Program with supporting him in his journey to become a Foreign Service Officer. He explains, “The Rangel program is committed to increasing diversity in the Foreign Service. As the child of immigrants with no history of higher education in my family, the odds were against my graduating from college, much less from graduate school and later joining the Foreign Service. The guidance and assistance provided by the Rangel Program was instrumental in assisting me along this path.”
“I would definitely recommend the Rangel Program to another person. The best two features of the program are the mentoring and guidance that it provides, and the opportunity to meet and get close to the other fellows, who are invariably a highly motivated, very interesting, and extremely dedicated bunch of young people. Anytime you run into a Rangel fellow anywhere in the world, you can rest assured you will have an instant bond. “
Salvador is currently serving in his first post as a Political-Economic Officer in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Asked for a favorite experience thus far, he recounts that two weeks after arriving at post, he found himself representing the United States at the launch of the country’s first oil production facility. “I was in the company of ambassadors from the UK and other countries, as well as ministers, members of parliament and even the president of the host country.”
His ultimate goal in the Foreign Service is to positively impact each country in which he serves. “This could take many forms, not only in furthering U.S. policy in the country to improve governance, economic development, and the promotion of human rights, but also in the simpler aspects, such as forming positive relationships, helping dismantle stereotypes, and presenting a more accurate reflection of the diversity of the U.S. population.”
Calvin Hayes
Calvin Hayes
2011 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Currently finishing his first assignment as a Cultural Affairs Officer in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Calvin Hayes is excited about pursuing a career that allows him to make an impact on the world. He explains, “The Rangel Program and the Foreign Service give me the ability to represent my country while also showing the diversity of America abroad. I have a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to engage global audiences, provide critical resources to communities that need it the most, and implement programs that will have long-term impact.”
Calvin is originally from Orlando, Florida and attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. He participated in the Rangel undergraduate International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program, studied abroad, and served as an intern in the U.S. Embassy in South Africa. His experience working on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to South Africa helped him to decide to join the Foreign Service. Calvin pursued his interest in the Foreign Service through the Rangel Graduate Fellowship, which supported his graduate studies and professional development. As a Rangel Fellow, he completed a Master’s in Public Diplomacy at American University and internships in the State Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs and in U.S. Embassy Djibouti. He explains, “The two features of the Rangel program that I value most are the opportunities for exposure and mentorship. Growing up, I was raised by a loving single mother, and I attended inner-city schools. The Rangel program provided me my first introduction to Washington, D.C. and a front seat to the creation of foreign policy, as well as mentors who continue to introduce me to a wealth of resources, opportunities and people.”
Now a Foreign Service Officer, Calvin is actively involved in outreach to local communities on behalf of U.S. Embassy Dhaka. Calvin’s ultimate goal in his career as a Foreign Service Officer is to leave each country knowing that he has advanced America’s interests while at the same time contributing to promoting a peaceful and prosperous relationship in every place that he serves. He adds, “In a decisive moment, you can either define the moment, or let the moment define you. Receiving the Rangel Fellowship has been one my most defining moments of my life.”
Jacob Mecum
Jacob Mecum
2011 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
As a member of the Coquille Indian Tribe, Jacob has always been interested in culture, history, language and international relations. Spending time on the reservation in Oregon and living and working outside of it sometimes left him feeling as though he lived between two different worlds. “The Rangel Program and the Foreign Service provide me with the opportunity to study other cultures, religions, ideas and political opinions; to bridge the gap between these two worlds.”
After graduating Portland State University in 2009 with a degree in Criminal Justice and working for a few years, Jacob realized that a career as a Foreign Service Officer would provide him the greatest opportunity to succeed in his commitment to public service, to his family, to his tribe and to the United States. Jacob believes that many of our international issues and conflicts today come from a lack of knowledge about differences in culture, religion and political beliefs. “As a Foreign Service Officer, I hope to help build, within the international community, an increased capacity for civil dialogue and cooperation, and to instill a desire to learn of and understand other cultures.”
Jacob recently completed his graduate studies at American University’s School of Public Affairs and entered the Foreign Service. He is currently serving as Political Officer iin Zagreb, Croatia. Jacob believes that the Rangel Program and the Foreign Service understand the value of diversity and hopes that his presence as a Native American Foreign Service Officer will help to open the door of this career for other members of his tribe to follow. “I wholly believe in and understand the quality of ideas, thoughts and values Native Americans can contribute to the international community.”
2010 Fellows
Patrick Branco
Patrick Branco
2010 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Patrick became interested in the Foreign Service and the Rangel Fellowship at the same time. In the summer of 2009, he received a Critical Language Scholarship from the State Department for the study of Korean language. During orientation in Washington, DC, several Foreign Service Officers spoke about opportunities in the Foreign Service and also spoke about the various State Fellowship programs. From that moment, Patrick decided he wouldn’t go to law school but would instead begin preparing for graduate school and the Rangel Program.
After his experience in Korea, Patrick applied for and received the 2010 Rangel Graduate Fellowship. He is now serving as a Watch Officer in the State Department Operations Center. He previously served as the Assistant Information Officer and Special Assistant to the Ambassador in Bogota, Colombia. He also has served as a Consular Officer in Embassy Islamabad and the Staff Assistant to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
For Patrick, the Rangel Program was the perfect fit because of his upbringing and his culture. “The Native Hawaiian culture is about stewardship and family. The Rangel Program parallels that in many ways. The program provides opportunities for excellent mentorship, professional development and this is done all in a family setting. The Rangel Program is all about family, whether it be with our director, mentors or other fellows.” During the summer of 2011, as a Rangel Fellow, Patrick attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He spent his overseas internship in Seoul, South Korea working in the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy. While there, he assisted in the development of programs for community outreach to college students. He also got the opportunity to travel to various places in Korea giving speeches to school-age Koreans about volunteerism and American Politics.
Patrick is excited to embark on his Foreign Service career which began in 2012. He is now serving in Bogota, Columbia. In his opinion, it is a career that combines many different things. “The Foreign Service is for those of us who are eternal learners. A great Foreign Service Officer needs to be able to continually learn on subjects like history, politics, economics, international relations, culture and much more. I love learning, and having a career that is fast paced and constantly changing is perfect for me.”
Patrick hopes that his presence as a Foreign Service Officer will not only bring recognition to his native Hawaiian people but also bring greater visibility to minorities in the United States. “America is a very diverse place, and I hope that through my work at State I can change the image and perception of how others view.”
2008 Fellows
Vi Jacobs-Nhan
Vi Jacobs-Nhan
2008 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Vi Jacobs-Nhan has always wanted to make a difference. Since taking her first political science course as an undergraduate at the University of Washington, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution to the world’s problems, not a critic. “My experience growing up in Vietnam in the 1980s, where I witnessed firsthand the legacy left behind by American foreign policy-makers, provided context to the lectures delivered by my professors,” she said. ”However, every class presented a new set of difficult problems and left me with a sense of ineptness.” With a desire to find strategies to promote positive change, this Chinese-Vietnamese-American was drawn to opportunities to understand how decisions made in Washington could affect those as far away as Vietnam. She decided to stretch her knowledge of the world by studying abroad in Morocco. “Discussing, and at times dispelling, my host family’s notions of what constitutes an American instilled in me a desire to present the real image of America to the international community,” she said. “I am awed by a chance, through the Foreign Service, to shape America’s foreign policy and humbled by the responsibility to show the world the diversity that is America.”
Vi presenting to a group of high school students in Osaka, Japan.
In her senior year of college, Vi was selected to become a Rangel Fellow and accepted admission to the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). As a Rangel Fellow, she took advantage of being immersed in world of policy-making as an intern on Capitol Hill and explored the congressional role in U.S. foreign policy. She then interned at U.S. Embassy Hanoi where she helped analyze Vietnam’s political dynamics through engagement with U.S. and Vietnamese officials and non-government organizations. She graduated with a master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Proficient in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Japanese, Vi is currently studying Thai at the Foreign Service Institute in preparation for her assignment at the U.S. Consulate General in Chiangmai, Thailand. Previously, she served in the Office of Taiwan Coordination in the State Department, the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, China and the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan.
Admiring others Rangel Fellows, Vi values the personal and professional connections she has through the fellowship. “The network of fellows, both in my cohort and from other cohorts, provides the support and the resources I rely on countless times,” she said. Offering her time and advice to new Rangel Fellows is also rewarding to Vi, as she sees the value of building strong ties to those around her. Overall, she said that the Rangel Program played a critical role in her journey to
the Foreign Service and achieving her goal to help write a better history for the students of tomorrow.
Greg Pardo
Greg Pardo
2008 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Politics and international service have been consuming interests for Greg Pardo, a native of San Antonio, Texas. With a degree in political science and international relations, Greg volunteered for a non-governmental organization in Bangladesh for two years after college.
Experiencing the political riots and subsequent suspension of elections in 2006 and 2007, he recognized the strong interest the United States has in promoting peace and stability around the world. His desire to be part of that effort attracted him to the Foreign Service. He turned to the Rangel Program to make his goals a reality.
“The Rangel Program is right for me because it has given me the opportunity to learn more about the ways Congress affects the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program has also shown me the various facets of diplomacy through presentations on trade and NGOs. More importantly, the Rangel Program has connected me to a network of experienced FSOs who are more than willing to guide me during my preparation for the State Department.”
As part of his fellowship, Greg worked for the Chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and Global Environment in summer 2008. In the summer of 2009, Greg was the only intern at the U.S. embassy in Rangoon, Burma during the high-profile trials of Myanmar opposition leader (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) Daw Aung San Suu Kyii and an American citizen who had visited her compound uninvited, sparking the detentions. Because these trials generated enormous international interest and condemnation, Greg was able to support the Embassy’s efforts to cover events in Rangoon. While he was the only intern, he was not the only Rangel Fellow – he worked with Chelsia Hetrick, a 2005 Rangel Fellow serving as a Foreign Service Officer in Rangoon. “I realized that democracy building is a long and challenging task that requires patience and commitment,” Greg said.
After completing both of his internships, Greg received his master’s degree in public affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas in Austin and joined the Foreign Service in the summer of 2010. He is currently working as the assistant to the U.S. Ambassador in New Delhi, India after a first assignment in the Office of Cuban Affairs in Washington, DC. As a Foreign Service Officer, he hopes not only to contribute to U.S. foreign policy but also to correct misconceptions about America. In representing the diversity of America, he hopes to show people around the world “a side of the U.S. they did not know existed.”
2007 Fellows
Erika
Lewis
Erika Lewis
2007 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Life is coming full circle for Erika Lewis, a 2007 Rangel Fellow and Foreign Service Officer. In high school, she was first introduced to the Foreign Service on a trip to the State Department representing Mexico in the Model UN Program. Five years later, Erika took her oath of office in that same State Department auditorium, no longer a visitor, but an employee.
As a Foreign Service Officer, Erika was stationed in Mexico, the same country she represented back in high school. “I decided to apply for the Rangel Program because I believed it would provide me with the tools I needed to prepare for a career in the Foreign Service,” she said. Erika graduated with a BA in International Business from Howard University in 2007 and immediately entered the Rangel Program. She received a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University in 2009. During her undergraduate years, she studied at the University of Ghana, Legon and served as an intern in the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Her experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student have contributed to her professional success, but the Rangel Program has given her so much more. In addition to the “genuine investment” in the lives and careers of the Fellows that she says comes from the Rangel Program staff, Erika most valued the legislative component of the program. During the summer before the start of graduate school, Erika interned for Senator Joseph Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, having the best internship experience imaginable. With the understanding that comes from working in Congress, Erika feels prepared to bring her classroom and real-world experiences to the Foreign Service.
To prospective fellows, Erika said that she “would absolutely recommend the Rangel Program.” Currently stationed in the Bureau of Foreign Assistance in Washington with her husband and two daughters, Erika is pursuing a career as an Economic Officer. Prior to this, she served in Yaounde, Cameroon where she contribute to the development of Africa through strengthening the trade and investment relationship between the United States and Africa. Committed to service, Erika also volunteers in the communities in which she works.
Aqueelah Torrance
Aqueelah Torrance
2007 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Currently serving as a Political Officer at U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, Aqueelah credits the Rangel Program with preparing her for life as a diplomat abroad.
“The Rangel Program is a great gift. It has provided me with great structure: two summer internships while in graduate school and a valuable source of friends. Going into the Foreign Service, I have a network of close friends. We have supported each other since grad school, and it feels great to know that we will have each other throughout our careers.” Besides developing “familial ties” with other Rangel Program fellows and staff, she also appreciated the relationships she formed with ambassadors and other senior officials through the program.
Aqueelah first learned about the Foreign Service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru where she worked with Foreign Service Officers who were in what she considered an amazing career. “[I] was fascinated by their work, opportunities to travel and interests in policy implementation,” she said. Accepted into the Rangel Program in 2007, Aqueelah was able to pursue a Masters in Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She also as served as an intern in the Office of Representative Donald Payne, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and in the U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama.
Aqueelah and her colleagues formed a particularly strong bond with one another and with the program staff that has remained with them. While Aqueelah attended graduate school in Washington, D.C., where the Rangel Program is based, the 2007 Rangel Fellows were spread throughout the country. But the bonds they formed were strong enough to endure long distances. Now scattered around the globe on everyone’s first assignments, Aqueelah truly appreciates the Rangel Program for providing lifelong mentors, friends and experiences.
This 2003 Rutgers University graduate and 2009 Georgetown University graduate is on the political career track because she “enjoys public service,” she said. “I have a strong interest in human rights and social equality.” With a strong interest in Latin America, where she said income disparities are a major challenge, Aqueelah is hoping to make a difference through her new job and life as a Foreign Service Officer. She is very excited that the foreign service has allowed her to broaden her experiences by serving her first tour in Indonesia, a part of the world that is of great interest to her, and then working on international Security issues in the Bureau of Eropean and Eurasian Affairs.
2006 Fellows
Brandon Jackson
Brandon Jackson
2006 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
After graduating from Cornell University, working for the government was the last thing on Brandon Jackson’s mind. Yet while serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Korea, a Foreign Service Officer gave a talk about the U.S. Foreign Service that changed his life forever.“The Foreign Service is the career that I always dreamed of but never really knew existed,” Brandon said. “The work is exciting and rewarding – with endless possibilities to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Now, as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) , Brandon looks back on his path that led him to the Foreign Service and to the Rangel Program. After seeing the connection between his commitment to service and learning about the Foreign Service, becoming an FSO became his top priority. For Brandon, the Rangel Program was a great resource for finding out what life is like in the Foreign Service, as well as the role that both the State Department and Congress play in foreign policy.
As a Rangel Fellow, Brandon did a congressional internship in Washington and attended Georgetown University. In addition, his overseas internship in Taiwan between his first and second years of graduate school made a significant impact on him. “My internship allowed me to work on issues of great importance to Washington, such as the “Trafficking in Persons” report and the 2008 Taiwanese presidential and legislative elections.” He visited a detention center for human traffickers and met with Taiwan officials responsible for revising the laws. “Knowing that I was part of the process that would eventually change how the government treated the very women I saw in that detention center had a profound impact on me,” he said. After this experience, Brandon concluded that he made the right career choice. Returning with one more year of graduate school at Georgetown University, he was able to apply the lessons he learned to his studies and to his future career in the Foreign Service. Brandon served in Sheyang, China for his first tour, followed by an assignment at the United Nations and one working as a Political Officer in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is currently a Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa.
In addition to his overseas internship, Brandon’s most valued aspect of the Rangel Program were his mentors. “I am a much more critical thinker, detailed planner and competent professional because of the mentoring relationships,” he said. “I would totally recommend this program to anyone who is interested in growing both personally and professionally in a tailored program that helps one to develop the necessary skills to succeed.”
2005 Fellows
Dominic Randazzo
Dominic Randazzo
2005 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Dominic was a college freshman when the attacks of September 11th occurred. Having always been interested in international politics and travel, the Foreign Service seemed to be the perfect way for Dominic to serve the United States of America. “Foreign Service Officers truly are the face of America. We undertake tough international assignments but are rewarded with the chance to strengthen and expand our person-to-person, bilateral, and multilateral relationships every day. I consider being a Foreign Service Officer a privilege, not a job.”
Dominic graduated from Allegheny College in 2005 with a Bachelor in Political Science. That same year he was awarded the Rangel Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship allowed him to dual master’s degrees in public administration and international relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and started him off on a path to a rewarding Foreign Service career. “The Rangel Program provides those interested in joining the Foreign Service with incredible experiences and opportunities. The internships I did through the program readied me for career of ever-changing locations, cultures, and issues.”
One of Dominic’s most profound experiences in the Foreign Service was being a Consular Officer on duty in Haiti when the deadly earthquake of 2010 struck. The consular team at the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince evacuated more than 15,000 American citizens and assisted thousands more. For Dominic, this experience demonstrated how American diplomats serve the core interests of the American people in times of crisis. “There’s nothing more incredible than helping fellow Americans overseas who are in need. I love leaving work each day knowing I made a difference in others’ lives.”
Over the course of Dominic’s Foreign Service career he has served in Haiti, Zambia, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Rwanda, and now Nepal. He did an internship as a Rangel Fellow intern in the Republic of Georgia. Dominic believes the Rangel Program was right for him because “it made me part of a family of dedicated and diverse future and former Foreign Service Officers. The staff and faculty who support the program fully believe in the program’s ability to help new Rangel Fellows become the best possible U.S. diplomats.“
2004 Fellows
Hala Rharrit
Hala Rharrit
2004 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Even before becoming a Rangel Fellow, Hala Rharrit had a burning desire to share her personal experiences with the world. Her family moved to the United States from Morocco when she was seven. Growing up, she was the only Arab-American in school. According to Hala, this duality afforded her “the special opportunity to dispel prejudices and to bridge gaps between my two cultures.”
In high school, her passion for international politics, economics, history and social sciences grew into a career goal and lifelong mission to promote cultural understanding, tolerance and cooperation across borders. After graduating from George Washington University, she earned the Rangel Fellowship and received a master’s degree in Arab Studies at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Her first post was in Sanaa, Yemen where she served as a Political Officer working on human rights, political party relations, counter-terrorism and child trafficking. She found her work in promoting critical issues such as human rights and women’s empowerment to be highly rewarding. She served as program manager for grants that made a real impact on the ground, including one that successfully incorporated human rights into the police academy curriculum.
Today, already fluent in Arabic and French, Hala is serving as a Vice Consul in Hong Kong, for which she trained in Mandarin Chinese . Her goals for her Foreign Service career include promoting education, women’s rights and empowerment, economic development, and poverty alleviation and bridging diplomatic gaps between the United States and other countries.
Hala’s experiences and education began with her passion to spread understanding throughout the world, and were advanced by Charles B. Rangel Program. “The program opened a great door into the intriguing world of the US Foreign Service.” she said. “This opportunity not only provided a scholarship for a master’s degree, but more importantly allowed me to effectively carry out the greater goal of promoting cultural understanding, tolerance and cooperation across borders.”
In addition to valuing her congressional internship and the subsequent internship at the U.S. embassy in Dakar, Senegal, Hala appreciated the bond formed with her fellow Fellows. “The experience of living with fellow Rangels established a great bond that has been carried into the Foreign Service,” she said. “It is a rewarding program which, while assisting you financially with graduate studies, prepares you for an intriguing, honorable and rewarding career that will change the course of your life forever,” she said.
Breanna Green
Breanna Green
2004 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
As an undergraduate student at Spelman College, Breanna Green developed a deep interest in the Foreign Service. Stimulated by the example and encouragement of mentors such as Spelman alumna Ambassador Ruth Davis, the first African American woman to be promoted to the rank of Career Ambassador, Breanna felt a call to service. Learning about the Rangel Program showed Breanna a way to realize her career goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO). Breanna currently serves in The Operation Center, the nerve center of the U.S Department os State. She recently completed an assignment in Madrid, Spain.
According to Breanna, being an FSO gives her “the ability to serve my country, the potential to help change lives, and the ability to travel and live in different countries, cultures and societies.” She was able to make a positive impact during her first assignment in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where she served as the Political and Military Officer. She found the work fulfilling and diverse and believed it gave her the opportunity to exercise leadership and develop new skills. Among her many accomplishments was helping to expand cooperation with the government of Burkina Faso on UN issues and coordinating U.S. military training programs and donations.
Breanna said that she is proud to serve as an example of an African American woman to the rest of the world. Ultimately, she hopes to “make a positive impact on the way women of color are viewed not just within the Foreign Service, but by people from other countries as well.” Working with the Defense Ministry at her first post gave her the opportunity to do just that. “I participated in Defense Ministry meetings where I was often the only woman in the room,” Breanna said.
Above all, Breanna values the counseling and the financial support she received as a Rangel Fellow. The Rangel Program introduced her to current and former diplomats, Members of Congress and FSOs abroad. Without the worry of paying for school or a finding a job after graduation, the Rangel Program gave her the ability to fully concentrate on her studies while in graduate school at American University. To this day, she still keeps in touch with the Rangel Program staff and all of her colleagues in the 2004 Rangel cohort as they all work toward making the Foreign Service more diverse and representative of all Americans.
2003 Fellows
Candace Bates
Candace Bates
2003 Rangel Fellow | Foreign Service Officer
Candace Bates, a 2003 Rangel Fellow, is currently working on population issues in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. As one of three full-time population policy officers in the Department, Candace has the responsibility of implementing policy and managing inter-agency coordination on all matters related to U.S. international population policy and its integration in overall U.S. foreign policy. She enjoys maintaining positive relationships with other governments and a few United Nations agencies in order to work toward progress in the lives of women and girls around the world, particularly in regards to reproductive health and rights.
Candace hails from Mobile, Alabama, and attended Florida A&M University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She joined the Foreign Service in 2006. She has worked on consular issues in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, served in Dublin, Ireland, and worked on international communications issues in the State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Her favorite things about the Foreign Service career are meeting interesting people, travelling and experiencing different cultures, the flexibility to take on a variety of jobs in one career, and most importantly representing the U.S. abroad and helping fellow U.S. citizens in distress.