“Once I decided I wanted to study public health, I looked for opportunities that would allow me to combine my passions,” she said. “The Payne Fellowship does just that. It provides me with the theoretical and practical skills I need to become a health foreign officer.”
The Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program awards up to 15 fellowships valued at up to $48,000 annually for a two-year program, including up to $22,000 per year toward tuition and fees for a two-year master’s degree at a U.S. institution, as well as covering other expenses. Payne Fellows are expected to earn a degree in international development or other areas relevant to the work of the USAID Foreign Service, at a U.S. graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program.
Florida International University
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February 26, 2021 at 8:30am
A study abroad trip to Cambodia inspired this alumna to pursue international development and help her qualify for a two-year graduate fellowship.
Pierina Anton Lopez became one of the 2021 fellows and FIU’s first recipient of the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program. This prestigious fellowship provides young individuals up to $96,000 in benefits over two years towards a pathway to the USAID Foreign Service to work on some of the most pressing global challenges of our times.
While an international relations major and Honors College student at FIU, Anton Lopez used her coursework and experiences to prepare her for a career in international development and education.