A Michigan State University student interested in international affairs has been named a finalist for a nationally competitive research assistant fellowship through the Carnegie Junior Fellows Program within the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Varsha Koduvayur is an Honors College senior majoring in international relations and comparative cultures and politics in the James Madison College and Arabic in the College of Arts and Letters.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Each year, the endowment offers 10-12 fellowships from a pool of nominees from nearly 400 participating colleges. Carnegie junior fellows work as research assistants to the endowment's senior associates.
“Varsha is an incredible student who has chosen a career in public service that will ensure she is an active participant in conversations and decision-making that are of a global nature,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the Honors College. “Congratulations to Varsha for being named a finalist for this prestigious fellowship.”
MSU has previously produced one Carnegie Jr. Fellow.
Koduvayur is from Auburn Hills, and a graduate of Avondale Senior High School.
She’s participating in MSU’s Arabic Flagship Program, which includes studying in Morocco during the current academic year. Koduvayur is the recipient of the Cole International Study Award through the Honors College.
She previously interned for The Prajnya Trust in India and the Center for Gender in Global Context at MSU, worked as a paralegal for McGinty Law Firm in East Lansing, Michigan and participated in the G20 Youth Summit in Germany.
After watching the terrorist attack on Mumbai unfold in 2008, Koduvayur knew what she wanted to do as a career.
"In the future, I hope to enter government service, and the depth of knowledge and policy analysis skills that Carnegie would equip me with will be invaluable,” Koduvayur said.
The National and International Fellowship and Scholarship Office at MSU, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes. The Honors College serves academically talented, committed students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence.