April 15, 2015
UW alum selected for prestigious Rangel Fellowship
University of Washington alumna Anne Mwendar, ’14, learned in March that she was selected for the prestigious and nationally competitive Rangel Fellowship, a joint initiative between the U.S. State Department and Howard University that aims to enhance the excellence and diversity of the U.S. Foreign Service.
The fellowship will provide Anne with the funds to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs, the opportunity to work with a member of Congress on foreign affairs issues in summer 2015, and a placement in an overseas U.S. embassy in the summer of 2016.
Anne Mwendar, ’14, second from left, meets U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during her fellowship at the UN Information Center in D.C.
“I’ve always been drawn toward working globally and helping disadvantaged populations, especially children,” Mwendar says. “Only after numerous and various working experiences in college and after did I come to the clear conclusion that I want to build a diverse career as a U.S. diplomat.”
Mwendar’s international focus was clear from the moment she arrived on the UW campus. She pursued interdisciplinary honors in international studies with a minor in political science, studied abroad at the Paris Institute of Political Science and wrote her thesis on the role of USAID in ending extreme poverty. Not only a committed scholar, she was also a student leader. She was the 2013-14 Homecoming Queen, won the Jackson Leadership award and spoke at graduation, among other accomplishments.
After graduating in June 2014, she became a fellow at the United Nations Information Center in Washington D.C. where she met visiting dignitaries like U.N. Secretary Ban Ki Moon.
The Director of the Rangel Program, Patricia Scroggs, said in a statement, “We are thrilled to have Anne as part of our program. She has already demonstrated outstanding leadership and scholarship, as well as a strong commitment to service in her time at the University of Washington and through various internships and work experiences. I am confident that she will be a highly effective Foreign Service Officer and will contribute to fostering peace and understanding throughout a long career in diplomacy.”
University of Washington students like Anne Mwendar are supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA). OMSFA works with faculty, staff and student groups to identify and help promising students develop the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for local and national scholarships that help them expand their academic experience and follow their passions.