About Us
March 15, 2019
Announcing the 51st Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows
New York, New York (March 15th, 2019) – Continuing its tradition of expanding the vision and developing the potential of remarkable students, today the Watson Foundation announced its 51st Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows. The Watson provides a year of unparalleled, purposeful international discovery for graduating college seniors in any discipline.
This year's class hails from 6 countries and 18 states. Fellows will travel to 76 countries exploring topics ranging from artificial intelligence to music subcultures; from food insecurity to island innovation; from neonatal to end-of-life care.
“A record number of students initiated this year’s application process. The new class is remarkable. They reflect the diversity, imagination and cross-disciplinary nature of our next-generation leaders”, said Chris Kasabach, Watson Foundation Executive Director.
Watson Fellows are graduating college seniors nominated by 40 partner institutions from across the United States. This year 41 students were awarded. A complete list of fellows and their home institutions follows.
About the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
The Watson Fellowship is a rare window after college and pre-career for students to engage their deepest interests on a global scale. Fellows conceive original projects, execute them outside of the United States for one year and embrace the ensuing journey. The program produces a year of personal insight, perspective and confidence that shapes the arc of fellows' lives.
Started in 1968, today Watson Fellows comprise leaders in every field including CEOs of major corporations, college presidents, Emmy, Grammy and Oscar Award winners, Pulitzer Prize awardees, artists, diplomats, doctors, faculty, journalists, lawyers, politicians, researchers and inspiring influencers around the world. For more information about the Watson Fellowship and the new class, please visit: Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
About the Watson Foundation
In 1961 the Watson Foundation was created as a charitable trust in the name of Thomas J. Watson Sr., best known for building IBM. Through one-of-a-kind programs and over 100 global partnerships, the Foundation provides students with unprecedented personal, professional and cultural opportunities that expand their vision, test and develop their potential, and build the confidence and perspective do so for others.
2019 THOMAS J. WATSON FELLOWS
Amber Afelin, Wesleyan University
Anuoluwapo Asaolu, Bowdoin College
Mona Ayoub, College of the Atlantic
Eli Cohen, Pomona College
Natalie Connell, Davidson College
Michelle Dan, California Institute of Technology
Andrea Dickmeyer, Hamilton College
Rose Driver, Reed College
Steven Duong, Grinnell College
Patrick Frenett, Amherst College
Alexa Gray, Bowdoin College
Leury Holguin, Wheaton College
David Johnson, Sewanee: University of the South
Justin Kim, Wesleyan University
Samantha Lilly, University of Puget Sound
Cello Lockwood, Whitman College
Alysala Malik, Carleton College
Emma Mandel, Williams College
Eliza Martin, Rice University
Charlotte Massey, Middlebury College
Samantha Miller, Union College
Allison Monroe, Hendrix College
Brandon Morande, Bowdoin College
Julie Morel, Vassar College
Meghan Murphy, Lawrence University
Phuntsho Norbu, Wheaton College
Ilana Nyveen, Rice University
Emmanuela Oppong, Union College
Pia Parisi-Marcoux, Wheaton College
Blake Plante, Pomona College
Tiye Pulley, Swarthmore College
Harrison Raine, Colorado College
Arish Mudra Rakshasa, Earlham College
Maurice Rippel, Haverford College
Kyla Roland, Davidson College
Alina Sabyr, Colgate University
Jeremy Snyder, Pomona College
Hannah Springhorn, Colby College
Fiona Sullivan, Middlebury College
Lucy Wanzer, Wellesley College
Sophia Zupanc, Wellesley College