By Jerome Dendy
The Patricia Roberts Harris (PRH) Fellowship, a public affairs professional development program, administered by Howard University’s Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center, has received a $200,000 philanthropic grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY). The funding will support the expansion of the program with a specific focus on increasing diversity and representation amongst emerging leaders in international affairs.
The PRH Fellowship is made possible due to a bequest issued by renowned Howard University alumna Patricia Roberts Harris (B.S. ‘45) to fund unpaid semester-long student internships – often a barrier to diversity, inclusion, and access to the professional development and work experience essential for entry and advancement in public affairs careers. Since the inaugural cohort in 1990, the PRH Fellowship has sponsored more than 200 fellows across the public and international affairs landscapes, spanning multiple disciplines. In 2020, the fellowship was reimagined as a one-year program to include professional development workshops, one-on-one pairings with professional mentors, and a summer internship. With the Corporation grant, the fellowship will expand the next cohort to 16 fellows, with 8 fellows in each track of the newly bifurcated program – one domestic public affairs track and one international affairs track, focused on peace and security.
“We are excited about increasing the next cohort of PRH Fellows to include a track specifically dedicated to international affairs,” said Jerome Haynesworth, program manager of the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship. “With the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York, we look forward to amplifying our work to increase awareness, access, and diverse representation in globally focused career pathways.”
Tonija Hope, director of the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center adds, “This award will make possible international experiential learning opportunities for Howard University students, which will be transformative for them on several levels; and we are thrilled!” Fellows selected for the 2023 cycle will be announced in November.
