About Us
March 15, 2023
Announcing the 55th Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows
New York, New York (March 15th, 2023) – Continuing its tradition of expanding the vision and developing the potential of remarkable young leaders, today the Watson Foundation announced its 55th Class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows. The Watson provides a year of unparalleled international discovery for graduating college seniors in any discipline. This year’s class comes from 20 states and 4 countries and exhibits a broad range of academic specialties, socio-economic backgrounds, and project diversity.
They will travel to 54 countries pursuing topics ranging from climate refugees to pediatric cancer; from contemporary African art to disability care innovation; from entrepreneurial inclusion to urban animals; from coastal resilience to modern opera.
About the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
A Watson Year provides fellows with the opportunity to test their aspirations and abilities through a personal project experienced on an international scale. Since the inaugural class was named in 1969, over 3000 Watson Fellows have been selected.
Watson Fellows are nominated by 41 colleges and university partners across the United States. Fellows receive $40,000 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.
The Watson community includes inspiring leaders across the world – artists, business leaders, community organizers, diplomats, Emmy-, Grammy-, MacArthur-, Oscar- and Pulitzer-recipients, entrepreneurs, faculty, healthcare pioneers, journalists, lawyers, politicians, researchers, and committed 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 expand their vision, test and develop their potential, and build the confidence and perspective to be more humane and effective leaders in the world community.
2023 THOMAS J. WATSON FELLOWS
Adaja Cooper, Hendrix College
Adilene Sandoval, Bates College
Agathe Mwehu, Wheaton College
Alli Roshni, Oberlin College
Allie Mikolanis, Wellesley College
Annie Means, Whitman College
Ariana Henry, Vassar College
Arturo Linan-Martinez, Bowdoin College
Aubrianna Wilson, Middlebury College
Benjamin Oelkers, Rhodes College
Caro Djakuduel, Davidson College
Charles-Olivier Levesque, College of the Atlantic
Charlie Wetzel, Lawrence University
Clara Benadon, Bowdoin College
Clark O'Bryan, Middlebury College
Elijah Hicks, Berea College
Elizabeth LaCroix, Bates College
Ella Meyer, Pitzer College
Ellie Murphy-Weise, Wellesley College
Emma Hart, Oberlin College
Emma Schaefer, Grinnell College
Erin Flannery, Colgate University
Grace Levins, Union College
Huda Rahman, Vassar College
Hunter Logan, Haverford College
Isabella Amaro Varas, Connecticut College
Jocelyn Velasquez Baez, Wesleyan University
Julian White-Davis, Carleton College
Katie Jose, Whitman College
Kirsty Leech, Rice University
Maddi Schink, Colorado College
Margaret Kraus, Scripps College
Marisol Cora, Earlham College
Mouminatou Thiaw, Scripps College
Olivia Stoetzer, Swarthmore College
Paige Bristow, Ursinus College
Rania Afaneh, Wellesley College
Salwa Sidahmed, Hamilton College
Sarah Shelton, Colgate University
Shiara Pyrrhus, Williams College
Sidney Taylor, Harvey Mudd College
Tomas Martinez, Pitzer College
Learn more about the fellows and their projects here.