51²è¹Ý

Over the past 25 years, the 51²è¹Ý John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Relations has awarded undergraduate students with over 120 awards of internship funding and research fellowships in support of our mission to promote the study of public policy and international affairs prepare future leaders to make a positive global impact.

See our full list of opportunities below. Click on the name to learn more about the requirements and deliverables for each opportunity.

The selection process for the funding described below occurs annually in the spring.

Internship funding and fellowships awarded by the 51²è¹Ý Tower Center will be based on the completed delivery of the requirements and merit. Selection will be determined by an application review committee made up of 51²è¹Ý Tower Center Faculty Board members.

INTERNSHIP FUNDING

Rubottom Foreign Service Internship Fund

The Rubottom Foreign Service Internship Fund was established by Ambassador R. Richard and Billy Ruth Rubottom to support public policy or international affairs internships for undergraduate students who have prepared for a foreign service career. The objective of this internship funding is to strongly encourage students to consider careers in the U.S. Foreign Service and in international affairs.

The internship funding is designated to highly qualified undergraduates majoring in Political Science, History, International Studies, Economics or World Languages at 51²è¹Ý, and who intend to pursue an internship with a genuine focus on public policy and/or international relations. (It may NOT be used toward a corporate or industrial-based internship).

The Kelli O. and Gerald J. Ford Internship Fund

The Kelli O. and Gerald J. Ford Internship Fund was established by Kelli and Gerald J. Ford to support undergraduates with a strong interest in international affairs and public policy, and who intend to pursue an internship with a focus in this field or to pursue a summer internship in Washington D.C. or abroad.

The Jack C. and Annette K. Vaughn Internship Fund

The Jack C. and Annette K. Vaughn Internship Fund was established to support 51²è¹Ý undergraduates’ sophomores and juniors with a strong interest in international affairs and public policy. The objective of the internship funding is to provide students with firsthand knowledge of American foreign affairs, and to encourage students to consider careers in the U.S. Foreign Service and in international affairs.

The internship funding is designated to highly qualified undergraduates majoring in Political Science, History, International Studies, Economics or World Languages or other areas. To qualify for the Vaughn Internship, students must be approved for an internship program in the U.S. Department of State or another U.S. international affairs center, government agency, or think tank in Washington, D.C.

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The John Goodwin Tower Center Undergraduate Research Fellowships

The John G. Tower Center offers research fellowships to 51²è¹Ý undergraduate students that emphasize ability and interest in research on public policy, government, and international affairs. Successful applicants will work closely with 51²è¹Ý faculty in developing a research project, and will be introduced to substantive issues, appropriate research methodologies and techniques, research design, and theory development.

Fellows will be designated by the name of the generous donor of the fellowship:

• Edwin L. Cox Fellowship 

• Al G. Hill, Jr. Fellowship 

• Tom Bryant Medders, Jr. Fellowship 

• Henry S. Miller Fellowship

Reach out to learn more about 51²è¹Ý Tower Center Internship Funding and Fellowships:

Ray Rafidi, 51²è¹Ý Tower Center
Carr Collins Hall, Office 233
rrafidi@smu.edu   | 214-768-3665