The Foreign Service Journal, October 2020

30 OCTOBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Launched in 2012, the Payne Fellowship has proven itself a valuable program. BY YOUSHEA BERRY Youshea Berry, chair of the Payne Advisory Group, serves as the deputy assistant general counsel for legislation and policy at USAID. She is a former congressional staffer and served in USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs when the Payne Fellowship program was created in 2012. T he Donald M. Payne International Develop- ment Graduate Fellowship program was established in 2012 to attract outstand- ing emerging leaders from historically underrepresented backgrounds, as well as those with financial need, to international development careers in the USAID For- eign Service. With strong congressional support, the program is funded by USAID and administered by Howard University’s Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center. Since its inception, the Payne Fellowship has opened the door for qualified, edu- cated and diverse young professionals to help USAID leverage their experiences as development professionals and diplomats. FOCUS ON ADVANCING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Boosting Diversity at USAID Payne Fellows gather at the National Press Club. Top row, from left: Mariela Medina Castellanos (2016), Tracey Lam (2014), Taylor Adams (2013), Ellexis Gurrola (2016) and Hoang Bui (2016). Bottom row: Suegatha Kai Rennie (2016), Jolisa Brooks (2016), Stephanie Ullrich (2016) and Brittany Thomas (2016). COURTESYOFTHEPAYNEFELLOWSHIPPROGRAM/MARAINAMONTGOMERY The Payne Fellowship: