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U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship

U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship

 

The U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship, a component of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program, is an opportunity to drive engagement and foster connection among U.S. exchange alumni across the United States. Nine U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellows embedded across nine different regions will develop their leadership and professional skills while strengthening alumni connections and mobilizing the U.S. Exchange Alumni network to expand the impacts of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs and contribute to local economic growth. 

                                       Apply for the 2027 Fellowship 

                                   The 2026 U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellows

Goals

  • Provide opportunities for U.S. exchange alumni to apply the skills and knowledge gained through their exchange programs in ways that contribute to the American economy and showcase American excellence. 
  • Deepen connections among U.S. exchange alumni and foster collaboration both within the alumni community and with the U.S. Department of State. 
  • Expand the reach and capacity of the U.S. Exchange Alumni network to model American innovation at home and abroad. 

Activities 

As representatives of the U.S. Exchange Alumni network, fellows will lead engagement in a specific U.S. region, raising awareness, building interest, and strengthening connections across the alumni network. In close coordination with the U.S. Department of State and IREX, fellows will plan and implement a series of professional development and networking events, manage a network of volunteer alumni, mentor early career professionals, and amplify available alumni opportunities offered by the U.S. Department of State.  

During the 10-month U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship, fellows will: 

  • Identify and lead regional initiatives to build community, grow the U.S. citizen exchange alumni network, and strengthen cross-program engagement
  • Identify and coach volunteer exchange alumni who will support the fellows with regional alumni network activation
  • Support the implementation of virtual and in-person Career Connections seminars, including attending the Washington, D.C. Careers Connections seminar
  • Promote the Exchange Alumni Portal, Career Connections seminars, the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) program, and other U.S. Department of State alumni initiatives
  • Participate in an in-person professional development workshop and engage with public diplomacy leaders
  • Report on their event activities and check-in with the U.S. Department of State and IREX on a regular basis

Fellow Benefits

  • Monthly stipend in support of Fellowship contributions
  • Attendance at an in-person professional development workshop in Washington, D.C. in July 2027
  • Hands-on experience in program management, strategic communications, and network building
  • Opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Department of State and IREX to strengthen the U.S. Exchange Alumni network
  • Opportunity to apply for additional funding to implement in-person Fellowship events 

Application Instructions

Fellowship applications must include all the following components. Incomplete applications at the submission deadline will be considered ineligible. 

  • Completed application form
  • Professional resume
  • Documentation of alumnus/a status (if requested)
  • Letter of support from a professional or academic reference

Eligibility Requirements

Successful candidates will demonstrate interest in strengthening their leadership capacity and will have interest and experience in strategic communications, alumni events, and network engagement.

To be eligible for Fellowship selection, alumni must meet all eligibility requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • Alumnus/a in good standing of a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, David L. Boren Scholarship and Fellowship, International Sports Programming Initiatives, Fulbright Programs, U.S. Peace Corps, etc.)

U.S. Department of State and IREX employees and their immediate family members are not eligible.  

Selection Criteria

Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the following selection criteria:  

  • Commitment to supporting and growing the U.S. Exchange Alumni network to advance the U.S. Department of State’s citizen diplomacy initiatives
  • Experience with outreach, recruitment, marketing, events, and alumni associations
  • Ongoing or past engagement with U.S. government-sponsored exchange alumni network
  • Experience with event implementation and event budget management
  • Strong writing, editing, and organizational skills, including experience preparing content for websites, email, and social media
  • Impact of the Fellowship on the candidate’s professional development and career goals

Fellowship Timeline

November 2026: Application opens

November – December 2026: Information Sessions and Office Hour. Register at the links below.       

December 16, 2026: Application closes

January 2027: Fellow selection

February 2027: Orientation

March 2027 – December 2027: Fellowship duration

Contact

For questions about the U.S. Exchange Alumni Program Fellowship, please email USexchangealumni@irex.org. 

U.S. Flag, U.S. Department of State Seal, Exchange Alumni Logo

The U.S. Exchange Alumni Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX.