Are you thinking about what to do post-graduation? Join the Center for Life Beyond Reed to learn more about the Watson Fellowship! This virtual panel will feature two past fellows, Stevie Hoesel ‘22, Alisa Chen '21, Rod Driver ’19, and they will share about their project, their experience as a Watson fellow, and what it was like to apply and interview for the fellowship along with answering any and all questions. This panel will be moderated by Reed's Watson campus advisor and CLBR associate director Nate Martin '16. Read more about the fellowship below:

The Thomas J. Wat­son Fel­low­ship is a one-year grant for pur­pose­ful, inde­pen­dent explo­ration out­side the Unit­ed States, award­ed to grad­u­at­ing seniors nom­i­nat­ed by one of 41 part­ner insti­tu­tions. This fellowship is a rare window after college and pre-career to engage your deepest interest on a global scale. Fellows conceive original projects, execute them outside of the United States for one year and embrace the ensuing journey. They decide where to go, who to meet and when to change course. They do not affiliate with academic institutions and may not hold formal employment.

The program produces a year of personal insight, perspective and confidence that shapes the arc of fellows' lives. Started in 1968, Watson Fellows comprise leaders in every field. The one year stipend is $40,000. In addition, the foundation provides health insurance, the equivalent of 12-months of payments on outstanding institutional and federally guaranteed (Perkins, Stafford) loans, and an additional stipend for the support of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) or a spouse. Only partner colleges may nominate students.

About the Fellows:

Stevie Hoesel '22 (she/her)

Stevie Hoesel is a Community and Policy Advisor at YouthLaw Aotearoa. As a Watson Fellow, she researched global responses to youth incarceration and recently completed a Master of Public Policy thesis on the minimum age of criminal responsibility and decolonial approaches to youth justice. She brings experience in grassroots organising, policy advocacy, and international justice reform.

Alisa Chen '21 (they/she)

Alisa is an educator who studied anthropology at Reed and completed their Master's in Education at Stanford. Their Watson Fellowship explored youth education and ice hockey across five countries as a coach, player, and spectator. Ladakh, India was their favorite destination, and they're planning to return there as a coach for the third time next winter. Alisa currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Rod Driver '19 (he/him)

Rod R. Driver is a nonfiction cartoonist who writes about social movements. His books are about Indonesian collective art organizing, 19th century Canadian utopian communes, the dams of the Columbia River, and his own life. He is currently organizing an artist exchange between Seattle’s Short Run Comix Fest and Yogyakarta, Indonesia’s Yogyakarta Komik Weeks. As a day job, Rod does the books at his family's dental office and bartends at a local theater.

This event will be recorded over Zoom and shared on the Center for Life Beyond Reed's YouTube channel and on Reed's Watson website.

Note: Please register via Handshake to have access to the Zoom link: https://reed.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1780890