Highlighting the impact of the Foundation’s international studies graduate student fellowships:
1. Jackson-Culp Fellowships
The Henry M. Jackson-Gordon Culp Fellowships provide support for two outstanding graduate students – one engaged in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, and the other in China studies. The Fellowships are named in honor of the late Gordon Culp, former counsel to Senator Jackson and a long-time member of the Foundation’s Board of Governors.
2019-2020 Jackson-Culp Fellow in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies Anastasia Kharitonova-Gomez
Anastasia Kharitonova-Gomez’s research concentrates on the local East Slavic diaspora, utilizing her affinity for in-depth, in-person interviews. Her thesis examines the political views of Ukrainians in America and more broadly, her research will serve as a case study of transnational political identity. How diasporas negotiate homeland and host land identities, experiences, and interests in their political engagement is a particularly relevant topic in the increasingly diverse United States. She noted that Jackson-Culp Fellowship supports her research by granting her the time and flexibility to conduct quality interviews and supplementary research.
Anastasia shared this about her fellowship:
After completing my master’s degree and a nonprofit certificate I’ve been able to incorporate into my schedule, I plan to continue working with nonprofits that support migrants. At a later point in life, I am interested in pursuing a doctoral degree with the intent to teach political science with a focus on post-Soviet states and diaspora studies. My education and career goals would not be possible without the generous support of the Jackson-Culp Fellowship. The fellowship allows me to take full advantage of the Jackson School’s courses without financial strain, especially given pandemic conditions. By graduating from the university with a well-rounded, debt-free education, I will be empowered to pursue a truly meaningful career. Thank you again for the privilege of receiving the Jackson-Culp Fellowship.
2019-2020 Jackson-Culp Fellow in China Studies Junhe (June) Yang
Junhe Yang, also a PhD student in the sociology department, focuses her research in social demography, specifically with a regional interest in mainland China. Currently she is working on her master’s thesis that looks into the relationship between marriage and mortality in China during the economic reform period. She finds that contemporary Chinese society is marked by a rising divorce rate, male-dominated gender imbalances, and an aging population. Junhe’s research analyzes the possible health implications of marriage, which she believes will lend further support for evidence-based policy making.
According to Junhe:
With an ultimate goal of applying what I learn in sociology to the Chinese context, I benefit from the resources that I receive through Jackson School – advice from faculty advisors, courses, lectures and seminars that have special focuses on China. I would like to expand my current research into a doctoral thesis, possibly looking at how income, education, and occupation relate to mortality in China. Hopefully, my thesis project can add to the rarity of empirical research on social factors that contribute to mortality in the Chinese context. The Jackson/Culp fellowship in China Studies has freed up my time to allow for multiple fruitful, inspirational learning opportunities, especially under the difficult time brought by COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Doctoral Fellowship
For the past several years the Jackson Foundation has annually provided support to a student enrolled in the UW Jackson School’s Ph.D. Program. The Jackson School utilizes these funds to recruit top-notch students who work in a priority area of the Foundation such as Foreign Policy, Environmental Studies, Human Rights, Russia, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East.
2019-2020 Henry M. Jackson Doctoral Fellow Lauren Hwayoung Lee
Last year’s Henry M. Jackson Doctoral Fellowship recipient was Lauren Hwayoung Lee, whose research examines domestic political influences on foreign policy choices, particularly in East Asia. Before joining the Jackson School at the University of Washington, Hwayoung served as a junior researcher at Korea Chair of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and worked in diverse sectors: NHK Japan Broadcasting Company in New York City, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C., and Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS. She received a dual M.A. in International Studies with honors from Seoul National University and in Public Policy from the University of Tokyo. She also earned a B.A. in English and Japanese summa cum laude from Kyungil University in South Korea.
Regarding her fellowship, Hwayoung wrote:
With the Jackson Doctoral Fellowship, I can fully spend my time focusing on course work and advancing my research for journal submissions and academic conferences. My research has been published in the Japanese Journal of Political Science (JJPS) and my papers have been accepted by several conferences, including Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA), International Studies Association (ISA), and Western Social Science Association (WSSA0). I could not have had this academic success without the Jackson Foundation’s financial support. I firmly believe that the skills, knowledge, and networks that I have gained through the Jackson School’s doctoral program will endow me with a strong foundation for my lifelong academic journey.