Sean Massa, C'15, Wins Prestigious Rangel Fellowship

Sean Massa

The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University announced that Sean Massa, C'15, was awarded a 2022 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide selection process. The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The fellowship will support Massa through a two-year master’s degree in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service. It will also provide extensive professional development opportunities, including internships, mentors, and skills training. As part of the Rangel Program, Massa will intern with a Member of Congress on issues related to foreign affairs in summer 2022. In summer 2023, the U.S. Department of State will send him overseas to intern in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get hands-on experience in U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service.  Upon successful completion of the program, Massa will become a U.S. diplomat in summer 2024, embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of service to his country.

Massa graduated from the College in 2015 with a major in Health and Societies with a concentration in global health and a minor in philosophy. A mixed Native student, he was an advocate for the indigenous community as co-chair at Natives at Penn, a student organization housed at Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC). Reflecting on his selection into the program, Massa credits his accomplishments to the GIC, faculty and fellow students at Penn and Yale, and the various programs that gave him opportunities to study and work overseas. He added, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my mentors, who helped me to find strength in my mixed identity and discover my passion in life: building bridges of mutual cooperation and understanding that span cultures and nations.”

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