2 take part in Foreign Service fellowship
A pair of University of North Georgia (UNG) seniors took part in the Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders this summer. Ryan Gentry and Claudia Marban were among the 20 students selected for the fully-funded enrichment and training program designed to increase awareness of Foreign Service careers among students nationwide.
Marban, a Gillsville, Georgia, resident pursuing a degree in political science, first became interested in diplomacy through her participation in Model United Nations at UNG. She jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Meridian-Cox Fellowship.
"I wanted to learn more about diplomacy and which careers are out there," Marban said.
Some of the highlights for Marban were visiting the United Nations Information Center and the Peace Corps.
Gentry, a Buford, Georgia, resident pursuing a degree in psychology and a minor in Japanese, kept his expectations low when applying. Once he was accepted, he was excited to hear more about the Foreign Service, which he is interested in joining.
"We got to meet all these amazing people," Gentry, who is vice president of UNG's Japan Club, said. "This was right up my alley."
Gentry was grateful that the fellowship highlighted the exciting and difficult parts of diplomacy, helping him have a more realistic perspective of what such a career would look like.
He learned about the fellowship from Dr. Bibek Chand, UNG associate professor of political science and international affairs. This was the latest instance of Chand helping the pair. He assisted Gentry in finding multiple scholarships to fund Gentry's summer 2024 study abroad to Japan. Chand’s investment in student success is impressive to both Gentry and Marban.
"The faculty and staff at UNG are willing to help students. It's very beneficial," Marban said. "I was able to find a program like this with their help."
Chand was glad Gentry and Marban took advantage of the fellowship.
"This selective fellowship was a great opportunity for our students to get a glimpse of Foreign Service opportunities and experience professional networking in D.C. Both Ryan and Claudia have gone above and beyond to seek opportunities for professional development," Chand said. "Apart from being very engaged on campus, they have consistently sought external opportunities. The fellowship challenges students to think about long-term career choices and the importance of engaging outside of your comfort zones. I am confident that Ryan and Claudia gained great experiences that will inform their career trajectories."
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