Refreshed Presidential Fellowship Program Expands Eligibility

The George Washington University has refreshed the Presidential Fellowship program that offers high-achieving students the opportunity for professional development and graduate study at GW.

Founded in 1989, the Presidential Fellowship, which recently has expanded eligibility, is another recent example of enhanced support for the graduate experience that includes the Wolcott Foundation’s expansion of supporting students in public service with a $4 million gift.

The refreshed Presidential Fellowship is a two-year program offered to GW undergraduate seniors entering a GW master’s program, GW master’s students entering a GW doctoral program or GW undergraduates entering a direct entry doctoral program. Fellows serve as ambassadors through academic, professional and personal involvement at GW, actively participating in community service and university events, ambassadorial attendance at functions and developing relationships with GW students, faculty, administrators and alumni.

 “The Presidential Fellowship is GW’s signature graduate fellowship program for recognizing and grooming future leaders, regardless of discipline,” said Suresh Subramaniam, vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs. “We aim to select a strong class of fellows that not only possess outstanding academic credentials but show the most promise to become leaders.”

This fellowship is one of the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships’ highest funded programs as recipients receive a $35,000 stipend/salary, in addition to full tuition coverage for two years.

Fellows serve in placements throughout the university that often complement their graduate degree or professional goals. As part of the program’s refresh, there will be more of a path for Presidential Fellows to work with GW leadership offices such as the president and provost.

“Encouraging and exposure to leadership work is going to be an emphasis moving forward,” said Autumn Anthony, supervisor of the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships.

In addition, the office is actively working to involve Presidential Fellowship alumni in the selection process for the next class. With mentorship being a key component to the program—fellows in their second year become mentors of incoming fellows—that alumni connection provides an additional arm for support.

“The community of [Presidential Fellowship] alumni is quite impressive. They invariably go      on to have meaningful careers, many of them already in leadership positions, and just tend to be some of the brightest stars year after year in their cohorts or generation at GW,” Anthony said. “I think having mentorship built into the program, and to be given access to that community of high achievers is of great value to incoming Presidential fellows because they will get to see what it took for someone at the start of their career to be able to network and build skills and leverage their education in the most fruitful way.”

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 15. For eligibility, undergraduate seniors intending to enter a master’s program must have a minimum of 60 credits and at least a 3.25 GPA. For undergraduate seniors intending to enter a direct doctoral program, a 3.5 GPA is required. And for those final-year master’s students intending to enter a doctoral program, a minimum 3.75 GPA is required at the time of application.

Interested students should also submit transcripts and two letters of reference, with at least one coming from a professor familiar with the academic ability and leadership potential of the applicant.