Syracuse Sun

Linda Baguma, a senior at Syracuse University, and Alexandria Johnson, an alumna, have been awarded significant fellowships aimed at preparing them for careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. Baguma has been named a 2025 Rangel Fellow while Johnson has been selected as a 2025 Pickering Fellow.

The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship is designed to attract and prepare young individuals for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The fellowship provides support through two years of graduate study, internships both domestically and overseas, mentoring, and professional development activities.

Similarly, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship offers recipients financial support over two years along with mentoring and professional development opportunities to ready them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows also complete internships at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., and at a U.S. embassy abroad.

Baguma's journey into foreign service was influenced by her experiences growing up between Africa and the United States. "Growing up in a refugee camp and then resettling in the U.S. gave me a unique perspective on the importance of diplomacy," she shared. Her academic pursuits included participating in Carnegie Mellon's Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute and studying abroad in South Africa.

"The Rangel Fellowship will give me the resources, mentorship, and hands-on experience to deepen my knowledge of foreign service," Baguma stated.

Johnson's interest began during high school when she heard from a retired ambassador through her global studies program in Cleveland, Ohio. She later interned with organizations such as the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and studied abroad in Strasbourg, France.

"I hope to make positive change and to bring more awareness to what Foreign Service Officers do," Johnson said regarding her future aspirations with the Pickering Fellowship.

Both fellows collaborated with Syracuse University's Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) during their application process.