Good Fellows

Although the program initially offered training and research opportunities to officials and academics from the former Soviet republics, today’s fellows include faculty, diplomats, and other practitioners from Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mali, Pakistan, South Africa, and Turkey.

“We think of our fellows as resident experts in their fields,” says Rachel Chris­topherson, program manager for the In­stitute’s Center for the Blue Economy. The center, whose work focuses on using innovative tools to address ocean and coastal resource management issues, cur­rently has two fellows: Mark J. Spalding, president of The Ocean Foundation, and Dr. Brendan Kelly, a leading researcher on the Arctic. Both will spend time on campus during the academic year deliver­ing lectures and seminars, collaborating with faculty and students, and sharing their expertise with campus colleagues.

Fellows at the Institute’s Cyber Ini­tiative help students gain digital litera­cy via instruction and career guidance, while also conducting research and help­ing identify funding opportunities. Cy­ber Initiative fellows include Dr. Linton Wells, former chief information officer for the Department of Defense; Dr. Wal­ter Christman, founder of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies; and Brian Steckler, a specialist in using technology to assist in humanitari­an crises.

Fellows’ contributions to the Institute range far beyond simply conducting re­search. They deepen and enrich the expe­riences of students, faculty, and staff by introducing fresh perspectives and adding to the Institute’s global web of profession­al connections.