Tim Berard, a double major in Political Science and Africana Studies here at URI, received a Gilman Program Scholarship to study in Amman, Jordan, and was also accepted to the Charles B. Rangel Summer Enrichment Program.
Tim has thrived in his past two years in Kingston since transferring from CCRI in 2018. Tim just received a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to study in Amman, Jordan for the fall semester, and was also accepted to the Charles B. Rangel Summer Enrichment Program.
The Rangel Summer Enrichment Program is a highly competitive, five-week, U.S. State Department funded program, designed as a professional development opportunity for aspiring international professionals. As part of this elite cohort of Rangel Scholars, Tim will study at Howard University in Washington, DC for five weeks in June and July. There are two core program components: academic preparation and professional networking. Participants take courses in Political Economy and the History of U.S. Foreign Relations, as well as a seminar in professional writing. Rangel Scholars also have the opportunity to meet with leading professionals from a variety of international organizations and federal agencies to learn more about common practices in international relations. The program is fully funded, and participants are provided a living stipend for their time in the capital.
Tim’s second award, a Gilman Scholarship, which is also funded by the US Department of State, provides funding for study abroad for those who might not otherwise be able to participate. The Gilman will support Tim’s participation in the CET Intensive Arabic Language Program at the University of Jordan in Amman. The program consists of coursework in Modern Standard Arabic, Jordanian Arabic, and elective options such as the History of the Middle East and Arabic Media.
As an aspiring U.S. Foreign Service Officer, both programs will go a long way in providing Tim the international exposure and breadth of experience necessary to become a highly competitive candidate. As a diplomat, Tim hopes to work in the realm of human rights advocacy, and is particularly interested in LGBTQ+ rights in regions such as the Middle East and Northern Africa with minimal protections for gender and sexuality minorities, including capital punishment for homosexuality in some cases.
Tim is still waiting for news on several other fellowships which would support his language learning. In the future, he plans to apply for the Rangel Graduate Fellowship to support graduate studies in international relations, for the Fulbright Scholarship, and for the Critical Language Scholarship.