Public Diplomacy Studies Award 2023 – applications now closed

The Walter Roberts Endowment, through IPDGC, has been consistent in supporting and recognizing GWU graduate students interested in public diplomacy.

Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded a GWU Elliott School graduate student who has shown academic excellence in their studies related to public diplomacy.

The awardee receives a prize for their academic excellence in Public Diplomacy studies while at George Washington University and will get recognized at the Elliott School’s commencement ceremony at the end of the academic year. 

Eligibility
Applicants for the award must be on schedule to graduate from the Elliott School of International Affairs this spring term. Applicants are also asked to provide:

  • A resume
  • A 500-word essay on their goals for pursuing further studies or careers based on their PD courses
  • due by March 13 by 5:00 PM ET

DEADLINE for Applications has passed: March 12 by 11:59 PM ET 

Open for submissions: 2022 Student Award for Public Diplomacy Studies

GW graduate students in international affairs encouraged to apply

Walter Roberts

The Walter Roberts Endowment (WRE) is happy to announce that the submissions period is open for the student award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2nd year graduate students at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded the Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies Award to a graduating student from the Master’s programs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs, for academic excellence and professional aspirations in public diplomacy. The Award is recognized at the Commencement ceremony of the Elliott School and offers a $1000 prize to the successful student.

All applicants must be enrolled as full-time second-year students in graduate programs at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

The deadline for submission for the Student Award is Wednesday, April 6 by 11:59 pm EST

Applicants of this award need to provide:

  1. A resume
  2. A 500-word essay on your goals for pursuing further studies or careers based on your PD courses.
  3. A short email/ letter of support from a GWU professor sent directly to ipdgc@gwu.edu  

(Subject: NAME OF STUDENT: “PD Studies Award 2021” or “Summer Internship grant”)

Please email the submission materials, or any questions, to IPDGC@gwu.edu

Congratulations to the 2021 winners of the Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies award!

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

The Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) are proud to announce that Global Communication graduates Saiansha Panangipalli and Halea Kerr-Layton are the joint recipients of the Walter Roberts Award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2021.

Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment recognizes a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies and has aspirations for a future career in this field. This year, we recognize two exceptional students.

Both Ms. Panangipalli and Ms. Kerr-Layton have demonstrated their passion for public diplomacy with internships at diplomatic missions and non-profits; working to advance government relationships and strengthening ties with foreign publics through educational and professional exchanges, and other programs.

Ms. Panangipalli used her brilliant writing and strategic planning skills at her internships with the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., the Moroccan Embassy in New Delhi, and at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the kind of work that exemplifies the spirit and intention of the Walter Roberts Award.

I aim for a career with opportunities to widen my exposure to countries and cultures, adapt to new cultural and historical constraints, and tell stories that inform and engage audiences across borders.

— Saiansha Panangipalli

Ms. Kerr-Layton demonstrated her outstanding leadership as a GW Presidential Fellow and in roles ranging from Strategic Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at Sustainable GW to Billingual Storytelling Associate at DC public school Mundo Verde. She was able to put into practice her public diplomacy skills working as an intern with Global Ties US, the oldest non-profit citizen diplomacy organization, last summer.

I have worked to advance the values of integrity, inclusion, diversity, and justice as I believe they are a foundation for cultural expression and community engagement. I choose to specialize in Public Diplomacy to master the skill of strategic communication in our contemporary world to create enduring change.

– Halea Kerr-Layton

Last year’s winner was Chaniqua Nelson, Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. State Department.