The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program of the U.S. Department of State managed by the Mansfield Center brings emerging leaders from Southeast Asia to Montana for intensive short-term fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. The Fellows are placed in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, academia, and government offices across Montana and the northwestern United States to learn first-hand how every day work and challenges in their fields are addressed in the United States. Host organizations and partners from a broad range of fields are needed for these programs.

By hosting for the Professional Fellowship Program, U.S. Fellowship Hosts become eligible for the opportunity to travel to their Fellow's home country for follow-on programs, sharing their own knowledge and expertise, experiencing a foreign culture, and studying best practices in their field in a foreign country. This opportunity is known as the “reciprocal exchange”, and the U.S. Fellow’s lodging, meals, and transportation are fully covered.

How to Apply

As the Institute on Civic Engagement for YSEALI PFP, the Mansfield Center facilitates Fellowships involved in, but not limited to, the following categories: non-governmental management; community development; advocacy; education and capacity building; media and journalism; law; health equity; youth initiatives and programs; and civic activism for marginalized populations. PFP Fellows under the Civic Engagement theme often hope to pursue experiences throughout their four-week Fellowship that strengthen their professional development in these key areas: NGO management; staff training and development; volunteer management; conducting effective community outreach and public relations; creating strategic partnerships and coalition building; conflict resolution and tolerance; social justice; or education and advocacy programs.

If you or your organization would be interested in hosting the professional exchange, please submit our short, online application, and the Mansfield Center will follow up with you:

Fellowship Host Responsibilities

• Define the Fellowship. The Fellowship is considered a professional shadowing experience, but the expectation is that the guest will rotate around the business/organization during the Fellowship to gain a comprehensive view of the business/organization. The U.S. partner should expect a significant time commitment in terms of organizing the Fellowship but should plan meetings and job shadows with others within the host organization as well as other relevant organizations.

• Complete all program requests for information and evaluations by the stated deadlines.

• Commit the time and the interest to hosting your partner, ensuring that you provide the hospitality and experience that is a hallmark of hospitality standards.

• Be open to the cultural differences you will experience with your partner. Represent your organization and community well and respect the differences you may encounter.

Contact

To learn more about programs currently seeking Fellowship Hosts that might suit you or your organization, contact McKennah Andrews at mckennah.andrews@mso.umt.edu or (406) 243-6605.