The Philip Merrill Fellowship
for the Best Essay on the Practice of American Diplomacy

The American Academy of Diplomacy, in collaboration with the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, annually grants the Philip Merrill Fellowship, awarded to a student who submits the best essay on the practice of American diplomacy. The Academy is a private, non-profit society of men and women who, during their careers in government, played major roles in the conduct of American diplomacy. Its members, now retired from government (including all living former Secretaries of State), work to enhance the quality of that diplomacy and build better public appreciation for its critical role in the pursuit of American interests abroad.

The fellowship will provide 50% toward SAIS tuition (currently $17,252.50 for 2009-2010) for each of the two academic years.  *(This amount is subject to change for the 2010-2011 academic year)

Application Procedures:

Applicants must submit an essay, 1,500 words or less, to the SAIS Admissions Office keeping in mind the definition: Diplomacy is the management through dialogue and negotiation of relations between governments and peoples in support of vital national interests.

The applicant’s essay should address the following topic:
"Aside from Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, what are two other foreign policy priorities the Obama administration will face during 2010 and how should it deal with them?"

Please use a title page with the title "Philip Merrill Fellowship Essay Contest" and include the applicant's name, address, phone number, and email address. Also put on the title page the total word count for the essay. All pages in the essay should be numbered. Questions regarding the fellowship may be addressed to the SAIS Admissions Office (admissions.sais@jhu.edu) or to the Academy at the following address:
The American Academy of Diplomacy, 1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202.331.3721; Fax 202.833.4555, Email: academy@academyofdiplomacy.org

Application Deadline:
Applicants must submit their essay by February 15th via e-mail admissions.sais@jhu.edu or mail:
Office of Admissions, 1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036


The 2009 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to Stephen Doyle, who wrote about the challenges the Obama administration will face in making diplomatic progress in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as with Iran. Read Stephen Doyle's essay.

The 2008 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to Andrew Zvirdzdin.

The 2007 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to Renee M. Gardner who wrote about the failure of the U.S. to utilize effective diplomacy in securing approval for staging American troops through Turkey to Iraq in 2003. Read the winning 2007 Merrill essay by Renee Gardner.

The 2006 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to David Hoehner who wrote about the successful practice of American diplomacy.

The 2005 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to Michael Cognato who wrote about the three most important challenges in foreign policy and diplomacy the new U.S. presidential administration will face. To read his essay, click here.

The 2004 Philip Merrill Fellowship was awarded to Karen Stanco who wrote about the unilateralism in American foreign policy from the perspective of "American Unilateralism."


 

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DIPLOMACY
1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 902
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202/331-3721
Fax: 202/833-4555
academy@academyofdiplomacy.org


Modified on: Monday, December 14, 2009

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