NEW YORK – Cultural Vistas is pleased to announce the 34th class of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program, consisting of 16 emerging leaders and experts from across the United States spanning the fields of education, law, government, business, security, and the NGO sector, among others.
The transatlantic partnership has always relied on relationships at a person-to-person level. The Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program fosters such ties and advances purposeful global engagement by building connections between experienced professionals in the United States and Germany through high-level professional experience.
Since its inception in 1984, the Bosch Fellowship has annually provided young American leaders the opportunity to advance their careers through comprehensive professional experiences while immersed in the political, economic, and cultural environment of Germany and the European Union. The program is fully funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, one of the largest foundations in Germany, and endeavors to develop a new generation of Americans committed to strengthening transatlantic relations.
Meet the @BoschFellowship's 34th class, which recently began its yearlong professional immersion experience in ?? https://t.co/8dEGuBLL0Q pic.twitter.com/fct1qOx3UO
— Cultural Vistas (@CulturalVistas) July 18, 2017
This is the fourth year of a revitalized program, which offers additional flexibility for fellows. By including a broader range of professional fields, different program duration options, and updated eligibility requirements, the Bosch Fellowship aims to include more mid-career professionals from a wider variety of professional backgrounds and geographic regions within the United States, in order to extend its reach and create even deeper ties within the transatlantic sphere.
The 2017-2018 Bosch Fellows participate in three months of intensive private language tutoring in their hometowns and are spending the summer in group language classes in Berlin, Germany. Depending on their elected program length, fellows will participate in a series of two or three professional seminars across Europe beginning in September and complete one or two high-level practical assignments at leading German institutions.
Each seminar lasts a week or longer and is designed to expose the fellows to an array of German, European, and transatlantic issues, as well as enhance their personal leadership development. During the work assignments, fellows work directly in their field of expertise alongside key decisions makers from Germany’s public and private sectors.
Since the inaugural group of Bosch Fellows began their transatlantic journey in the summer of 1984, more than 550 young Americans have taken part in this intensive intercultural professional experience.
The 34th class of Robert Bosch Foundation Fellows, their experience and focus in Germany:
Francisco Aguilar
Las Vegas, Nevada
Education: J.D. in Business Administration / Management & Operations, The University of Arizona College of Law; MBA in Finance, The University of Arizona Eller College of Management; BS in Finance and Accounting, The University of Arizona
Professional Experience: General Counsel at Agassi Enterprises; Senior Counsel at Southwest Gas Corporation
Fellowship Field: Business
Fellowship Focus: Sports and Brand Management
Emily Byrne
New Haven, Connecticut
Education: MPA in Public Administration, New York University Wagner; BA in Political Science, Providence College
Professional Experience: Director of Strategy and Innovation, Elm City Communities; Director of Strategic Initiatives, CT Department of Education; New Haven Promise, Founding Executive Director
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Dual Studies Programs – Refugee Integration
Gloria Cadavid
Washington, D.C.
Education: MS in Sustainability Management, Columbia University; MPP in Economic Policy, University of Michigan; BS in Business Administration & International Business and Spanish, The College of New Jersey
Professional Experience: Manager in marketing and Business Development at DC Water; Senior Associate at Veolia North America
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Water Policy and Management
Melissa Chan
Los Angeles, California
Education: MS in Comparative Politics, The London School of Economics; BA in History, Yale University
Professional Experience: Correspondent at Al Jazeera America; Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University
Fellowship Field: Journalism
Fellowship Focus: German and European Politics
Bettina Gardner
Atlanta, Georgia
Education: MS in International Affairs / Research & Science Policy, Georgia Tech; MBA in International Management, Thunderbird, School of Global Management; BS in Multinational Business Operations & Spanish, Florida State University
Professional Experience: Interim Director of International Affairs at Mayor’s Office, City of Atlanta; Deputy Director of International Affairs at Mayor’s Office, City of Atlanta
Fellowship Field: Business
Fellowship Focus: Foreign Direct Investment and Workforce Training
Jessica Heller
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Education: MA in Geopolitics, Territory & Security, King’s College London; BA in Political Science and Russian Studies, Gustavus Adolphus College
Professional Experience: Professional Exchanges Manager at Global Minnesota; IVLP Program Officer at Cultural Vistas
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: NGOs in Public Diplomacy and Refugee Integration
Justin Hepworth
Henderson, Nevada
Education: JD in Law, University of Oregon School of Law; International Politics, American University; BA in Political Science, University of Utah
Professional Experience: Partner at Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff, PC; Associate at Snell & Wilmer LLP
Fellowship Field: Law
Fellowship Focus: Refugee Integration
Jonathan Jones
London, United Kingdom
Education: MA in Security Policy Studies, Kings College London; BA in Political Science, Hawaii Pacific University
Professional Experience: Staff Sergeant/Security Cooperation Planner at United States Marine Corps Marine Forces Europe and Africa of US Government; TALK Scholar at National Institute for International Education of South Korean Government
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Cybersecurity and Cooperation
Matthew Joyce
Washington, D.C.
Education: MPP in International Affairs, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government; BA in History, John Carroll University
Professional Experience: Deputy Division Chief, China/Taiwan/Mongolia Division, Joint Staff J-5, U.S. Department of Defense
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Transatlantic Military Diplomacy toward China
Amy Nelson
Washington, D.C.
Education: PhD in Political Science, University of California Berkeley; MA in French Studies, Columbia University; BA in Philosophy, Stanford University
Professional Experience: Nonresident Fellow at Stimson Center; Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Weapons Development
Jeffrey Orzechowski
Alexandria, Virginia
Education: MA in Diplomacy, Norwich University; BA in Political Science at Grand Valley State University
Professional Experience: Deputy Chief of Staff at U.S. Representative Candice S. Miller; Field Coordinator at U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra for U.S. Senate
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: German Foreign Policy
Emily Schultheis
Washington, D.C.
Education: BA in English Literature, University of Pennsylvania
Professional Experience: Reporter/Editor at CBS News Digital; Political Reporter at National Journal
Fellowship Field: Journalism
Fellowship Focus: Right-Wing Populism in Global Politics
Madeleine Schwartz
Brooklyn, New York
Education: MA in Classical, Ancient Mediterranean & Near Eastern Studies, Oxford; BA in History, Harvard
Professional Experience: Assistant Editor at The New York Review of Books; Freelance Writer
Fellowship Field: Journalism
Fellowship Focus: Impact of Brexit on the German Economy
Christopher Shea
London, United Kingdom
Education: MA in British Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin; BA in English Literature, University of Chicago
Professional Experience: Culture Reporter/Researcher at The New York Times/INYT; Theater Writer at Time Out Chicago
Fellowship Field: Journalism
Fellowship Focus: Government Investment in Culture/Civic Life
Melissa Yeager
Overland Park, Kansas
Education: MA in international Media, American University; BS in Journalism, University of Kansas
Professional Experience: Senior Staff Writer at Sunlight Foundation; Investigative Reporter at 41 Action News
Fellowship Field: Public Policy
Fellowship Focus: Transparency
Marc Zemel
Seattle, Washington
Education: JD in Environmental Law, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law; BA in History, University of Wisconsin
Professional Experience: Attorney at Smith & Lowney PLLC; Legal Advocate at Urban Justice Center
Fellowship Field: Law
Fellowship Focus: Environmental Advocacy; NGOs