ROBERTSON FELLOWS PROGRAM
Preparing Leaders
As part of its long-term effort to identify and prepare future U.S. government leaders in the areas of national security, foreign policy and international affairs, the Robertson Foundation for Government (RFFG) launched its first major program at the start of the 2010-2011 academic year: the Robertson Fellows program.
Under this program, graduate students at select partner universities, all of whom have agreed to work for the federal government for a minimum of three of their first five years after graduation - a program requirement - receive full scholarships and internship stipends. The first class of Robertson Fellows, announced in October 2010, included 11 students at four universities. Texas A&M University was added to the list of participating universities in 2011 and 17 new students at the five participating universities were named to the second class of Robertson Fellows at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year. Additional schools will be added in the future
Government Service: “A Calling”
The Robertson Fellows program is modeled after the Service Academies in some ways, and a commitment to federal government service is integral to the program. Another program requirement is fluency in at least one foreign language.
The Robertson Foundation for Government is looking for top-quality graduate students who see government service as a potential calling and hope to become tomorrow’s foreign-policy leaders and help the United States formulate and implement policy. It is not looking for students who see a short-term stint in government as a stepping stone to something else or students who will be comfortable as anonymous cogs in a giant machine.
The Robertson Fellows program will enable selected students to pursue federal government careers without being saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt.
The Robertson family hopes the Robertson Fellows program will have a significant impact over time, as have the government-financed Fulbright Scholar Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
We are committed to making our parents’ vision a reality: helping the United States navigate the difficult foreign policy shoals that lie ahead by preparing some of America’s most gifted and highly motivated students for federal government careers in foreign policy, national security, trade and related disciplines.
– William S. Robertson
Chairman, RFFG
PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES
Five universities currently participate in the Robertson Fellows program: Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Tufts University, the University of Maryland and the University of California, San Diego.
Students interested in the Robertson Fellows program should contact the universities directly for more information on the application process and requirements.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES
Syracuse University
Maxwell School of Syracuse University
200 Eggers Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-1020
Phone: (315) 443-2306
Email(International Relations): nsbartko@maxwell.syr.edu
Email(Public Administration): hsmcfall@maxwell.syr.edu
Web Site: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/pa.aspx?id=661
Texas A&M University
(First Class/Fall 2011)
Bush School of Government and Public Service
4200 TAMU
College Station, TX
Phone: (979) 862-3476
Email: Admissions@bushschool.tamu.edu
Web Site: http://bush.tamu.edu/financialaid/financialassistance/#robertson
Tufts University
Admissions Office
The Fletcher School
160 Packard Avenue
Medford, MA 02155-7082
Phone: (617) 627-3040
Email: FletcherAdmissions@Tufts.edu
Web Site: http://fletcher.tufts.edu/admissions/scholarshipslist.shtml
University of Maryland
Maryland School of Public Policy
2101 Van Munching Hall
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-6330
Email: Policy-applications@umd.edu
Web Site: http://publicpolicy.umd.edu/prospective-students/Financial%20Aid
University of California, San Diego
School of International Relations & Pacific Studies
9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0519
La Jolla, CA, 92093-0519
Phone: (858) 534-2660
Email: irps-apply@ucsd.edu
Web Site: http://irps.ucsd.edu/friends/robertson-fellows.htm