About Us
March 15, 2021
Announcing the 53rd Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows
New York, New York (March 15th, 2021) – Continuing its tradition of supporting remarkable young leaders, today the Watson Foundation announced its 53rd Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows. The Watson provides a year of unparalleled international discovery for select graduating college seniors in any discipline. This year’s class comes from 22 states and 8 countries and exhibits a broad range of academic specialties, socio-economic backgrounds, and project diversity.
They will travel to 77 countries pursuing topics ranging from marginalized languages to community healthcare; from food sovereignty to Black women's liberation through art; from computer science education to underground music production.
About the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Watson Fellows are selected from 41 private colleges and university partners across the United States. They receive $36,000 for twelve months of travel and college loan assistance as needed. Following the year they join a community of peers who provide a lifetime of support and inspiration.
Over 3000 Watson Fellows have been named since the inaugural class in 1969. A Watson Year provides fellows with the opportunity to test their aspirations and abilities through a personal project experienced on an international scale. Watson Fellows are leaders in their communities and fields, including CEOs, college presidents, community organizers, Emmy-, Grammy-, and Oscar-award winners, artists, diplomats, entrepreneurs, faculty, journalists, lawyers, politicians, physicians, researchers, and influential social advocates.
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 works with students to develop personal, professional and cultural opportunities that build their confidence and perspective to be more humane and effective leaders with a world view.
2021 THOMAS J. WATSON FELLOWS
Abel Sapirstein, Harvey Mudd College
Alisa Chen, Reed College
Amy Harff, Hamilton College
Archer Thomas, Bowdoin College
Augustina Nguyen, Wheaton College
Benjamin Portzen, Lawrence University
Bramwell Atkins, Sewanee: University of the South
Connie Chao, Wellesley College
Crystal Ma, Williams College
Divya Gudur, Middlebury College
Eleda Fernald, Oberlin College
Eniola Ajao, Amherst College
Esther Mano, Earlham College
Grace Callahan, Wellesley College
Hannah McKenzie, Bates College
Isis Pinheiro, Bard College
Jack Rider-McGovern, Connecticut College
Jacob Fontaine, Rhodes College
Jiin Jeong, Hamilton College
Joseph Stein, Haverford College
Kyra Zapf, University of Puget Sound
Langston Stephens, Davidson College
Lauren Hutton, Colgate University
Lia Pikus, Rice University
Liam Voorhees, Whitman College
Liana Merk, California Institute of Technology
Madi Goetzke, Oberlin College
Mandy Tu, Sewanee: University of the South
Margot Lurie, Amherst College
Mari Robles, Vassar College
Matthew Roizin-Prior, Union College
Nora Peachin, Middlebury College
Ricardo Jimenez, Lawrence University
Samuel Pigott, Earlham College
Sarah Vanasse, Union College
Savannah Wiegel, Hendrix College
Soha Saghir, Haverford College
Stephen Nadler, Union College
Tashayla Borden, Connecticut College
Vivian Bauer, Macalester College
William Prum, Hamilton College
Zijia Zhuang, Bryn Mawr College
Learn more about the fellows and their projects here.