Fox International Fellowship Marks 35 Years of Global Impact
Being part of the fellowship was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I continue to share the spirit of the program.
For Seren Korkmaz, the Fox International Fellowship led her to start a prominent think tank advancing democratization efforts in Turkey. For Paul Rink, the research skills he acquired during his fellowship year prepared him to run a public interest law firm focused on climate and environmental justice.
Their stories are not unique. Now in its 35th year, the MacMillan Center’s Fox International Fellowship has shown how academic exchanges can not only alter career trajectories but foster lasting global connections. Founded in 1988 by Joseph Carrère Fox ('38) the Fellowship enhances mutual understanding between the United States and other countries by supporting international scholarly exchange among leaders. The Fellowship remains one of Yale’s foremost means of promoting intellectual engagement abroad.
A newly released report tells the story of the transformative impact that the fellowship has had for more than 700 alumni, highlighting its role in shaping their work across a range of professions and disciplines, including academia, public policy, environmental law, and human rights. Their stories reflect the program’s considerable success in promoting peace, prosperity, and a more sustainable and equitable world. This mission remains salient, especially amidst rising populism and as many countries increasingly look inward rather than across borders.
Michael Eastman, a 2007–08 Fellow from the University of Cape Town, reflected, “For the first time, I lived in another country, in a house with people from diverse backgrounds. That experience made me a diplomat in daily life and a more effective professional in my career.” He credits the Fox International Fellowship with helping him secure a clerkship at the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
Beyond the fellowship’s contributions to policy, politics, and research, its influence resonates in the way alumni think about culture, community, and shared responsibility in an interconnected world.
The reports publication comes one year after the centennial of co-founder Alison Barbour Fox, wife to Joseph Fox. Her vision of education as a bridge across cultures was central to the founding of the fellowship. The reports findings will guide the fellowship’s future, in step with the MacMillan Center’s commitment to global collaboration.
Read the report: Fox International Fellowship: 35 Years of Impact