Forum Fellowships

Empowering Your Growth: Explore Forum Fellowships

The Forum on Education Abroad proudly supports fellowships designed to provide unique and in-depth professional experiences. We are excited to support two fellowship opportunities in 2026:

The Forum Fellowship Program Sponsored by MISTI
Sara's Wish Foundation Fellowship

Forum Fellowship Program with MISTI

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), the Forum Fellowship is ideal for graduate students looking for a practicum or internship experience. This fellowship is designed to provide an intensive and in-depth experience to newcomers to the field of education abroad.

Sponsored by MISTI, the 2026 Forum Fellowship will engage selected fellow(s) in The Forum’s Professional Certification Accelerated Residency program and then match them with experienced mentors at MISTI to work on a meta project.

The goals of The Forum Fellowship are:

To expand and diversify the network of new professionals in our field.
To provide a practical, meaningful, and mutually beneficial experience for the individuals and institutions involved.
To deepen understanding of the application of the Standards of Good Practice in Education Abroad and encourage completion of the Professional Certification in Education Abroad credential.
To cultivate early-career international educators who champion education abroad experiences.

Apply here

Sponsored by:

Fellowship Details

Timing and Locations

The full time commitment for the 2026 Forum Fellowship is approximately 6.5 weeks on site, plus additional time to complete the assignments required to earn the Professional Certification in Education Abroad.

June 22-24 | Boston, Massachusetts
- Participation in The Forum’s Professional Certification Accelerated Residency program in Boston, MA at Boston College
July and August | Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Six weeks on campus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engaged in a full-time internship with MISTI, completing project based work in education abroad (exact dates TBD).

Funding and Costs

The 2026 Forum Fellowship will be fully funded by The Forum on Education Abroad and MISTI:

The Forum will cover registration, hotel, travel, and meals for the Professional Certification Accelerated Residency program.
MISTI will provide a modest salary to cover travel, housing, and living expenses for the 6 week on-campus portion of the fellowship.

Fellow's Responsibilities

Attend The Forum’s Accelerated Residency in June 2026.
Commit to a minimum of 30-hours per week for six weeks of an on campus internship at MIT.
Commit to full participation for the duration of the program.
Attend virtual meetings (including a pre-fellowship and post-fellowship meeting with The Forum and MISTI leadership).

Application Information

Application Process

A maximum of two Forum Fellows will be chosen in 2026. Before applying, please review the requirements and timeline closely to ensure that the application process and fellowship time commitments will work for you.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Application Criteria

If you meet the criteria listed below, you are eligible to apply to be a Forum Fellow in 2026:

New to the field of education abroad (less than 3 years) i.e. graduate students working toward a degree in international education, student affairs, or other related discipline.
Committed to working in the field of education abroad and to issues surrounding access and engagement
Able to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements listed above
Committed to applying the Standards of Good Practice in Education Abroad and who will be champions of creating, revamping, and maintaining high-quality and accessible education abroad programs in their work.
Legally permitted to work in the United States throughout the year of 2026.
Individuals studying or working at HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other minority serving institutions are encouraged to apply.

Application Timeline

Application Opens: December 11, 2025
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Review Period: After February 13, 2026
Notification Period: Late-February/Early-March
Fellowship Dates: June, July, and August 2026

Meet Past Fellows

2025 Fellow

Hailey Hesseltine
Professional Title: Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
Institution: Ordu University

Bio: Hailey Hesseltine is an international education professional committed to expanding access to global learning opportunities for students from all backgrounds. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University. Her professional experience includes roles in international student services, academic advising, and intercultural programming at institutions such as Jefferson State Community College, the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and the University of Texas at Arlington. She has also served as a College Advising Corps adviser in Texas public schools, supporting first-generation and underrepresented students in their pursuit of higher education. More recently, Hailey was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Türkiye, where she taught university students while also leading community-based English speaking clubs. She is a past recipient of the East-West Center Foundation Scholarship, a Critical Language Scholarship finalist, and a fellow of the Miracle Corners of the World Young Leaders Fellowship. Hailey is passionate about creating intercultural programming that is both accessible and equity-driven. Her work is grounded in the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to engage in international experiences, regardless of their background. Through the MISTI/Forum Fellowship, she aims to deepen her knowledge of the international education sector and prepare for a long-term career developing sustainable, inclusive pathways for students to study abroad, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in global learning.

Accelerated Residency 2025 participants in Chicago, Illinois

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Forum Fellowship Sponsors

The 2026 Forum Fellowship is a program sponsored by MIT’s International Science and Technology Initiatives. Interested in sponsoring a practicum or hosting a Forum Fellow in the future? Contact us at [email protected].

Sara's Wish Foundation Fellowship

Sara’s Wish Foundation has generously provided funding for the establishment of a Sara’s Wish Foundation Fellow. The recipient of the Sara’s Wish Fellowship will receive funding to enroll and participate in The Forum on Education Abroad Professional Certification program. Participants may choose from the Professional Certification Asynchronous Course hosted by the SIT Graduate Institute, or the Accelerated Residency program offered in-person each June.

Apply Here

Fellowship Details

Fellow's Responsibilities

The selected fellow will be required to complete all of the following:

Finish The Forum on Education Abroad Professional Certification program within a year of start date.
Submit testimonial for the annual Sara’s Wish Foundation report.
Participate in the virtual meet and greet with the Sara’s Wish Foundation administrators.
Complete 3 of the following activities:
- Write Three (3) Health and Safety related Blogs
- Deliver one (1) Health and Safety related presentation at a conference or workshop
- Create two (2) health and safety resources
- Research and collect ten (10) health and safety resources for The Forum’s resource bank
- Design and execute a social media campaign for the Sara’s Wish Foundation
- Volunteer at one (1) Forum event
- Create and put into action a health and safety project at their institution/organization
- Secure additional funding for the Sara’s Wish Foundation
- Project of their choosing approved by The Forum staff

Application Process

A maximum of one Sara's Wish Foundation Fellowship will be awarded in 2026. Priority will be given to applicants from Forum member Minority Serving Institutions. Selections will be made by a committee of Forum staff chaired by the Director of Programs and Training.

Application Timeline

Application Opens: December 11, 2025
Application Closes: February 13, 2026

Meet Past Fellows

2025 Fellow

Lishanthi Caldera
Professional Title: Safety Abroad Advisor, TMU Global
Institution: Toronto Metropolitan University

Bio: Lishanthi Caldera is a higher education professional with over seven years of experience in student mobility and global learning. As Safety Abroad Advisor at Toronto Metropolitan University, she leads risk management and emergency response for international programs.

Lishanthi specializes in process optimization, regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of safety and inclusivity in global learning programs. With a background in library and information science, she leverages strong research and data analysis skills to drive strategic decision-making and program evaluation. Her expertise in project management ensures the effective development, execution, and assessment of initiatives that enhance program efficiency and outcomes. A tech-savvy professional, she is proficient in CRM and database systems like MoveOn, Terra Dotta, and D2L Brightspace, using digital solutions to improve student experiences.

Committed to equity, inclusion, and access, Lishanthi works to make global learning opportunities accessible to all students. She actively pursues professional development and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Library and Information Science Diploma, along with training in Project Management, Records Management, Database Administration, and Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Currently, she is developing an internal communication plan for managing emergencies abroad and a travel policy to mitigate institutional risk. Her long-term goal is to drive institutional changes that enhance the safety and quality of international programs by aligning policies with best practices in risk management.