Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science Alumnus Shamarcus Doty was awarded a 2020 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide contest on Nov. 22.
The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The Rangel Fellowship will support Doty through a two-year master’s degree in International Relations. It will also provide extensive professional development opportunities, including internships, mentors, and skills training. As part of the Rangel Program, Doty will intern with a Member of Congress on issues related to foreign affairs in summer 2020. In summer 2021, the Department of State will send him overseas to intern in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy. Upon successful completion of the program in summer 2022, Doty will become a U.S. diplomat, embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of service to his country. During the competition, he impressed the selection panel with his strength in academics, research, and service learning, as well as his commitment to strengthen U.S. relations with Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia and lead Foreign Service personnel to make global impacts.
Doty is the proud son of Olivia Walden and Karl Doty and brother of Lakeshia Walden. He hails from Lexington, Mississippi,and is a senior at Colgate University where he is majoring in African Studies. During his time at Colgate, he has developed strong competencies in written communication, quantitative analysis, and cultural adaptability, among many other skills. As an Office of Undergraduate Scholar at Colgate, he demonstrated academic excellence, creativity, and leadership despite significant social and financial challenges. During his final two years of undergraduate studies, he structured his studies to gain practical experience by pursuing research-based, experiential learning through three consecutive study abroad opportunities in South Africa, Jamaica, and Ghana. As a Gilman scholar, Doty pursued research on homophobia in Jamaica and encouraged students of color to pursue study abroad opportunities. As a recipient of the Levine-Weinberg Endowed Summer Fellowship, he interned at Amnesty International Ghana and studied at the School for International Training in Ghana. Doty has a passion for developing initiatives to promote diversity and inclusivity in collaborative environments. He believes implementing these initiatives is key to promoting sustainable growth for the global community.
Doty’s journey has now led him to the Rangel Fellowship, through which he will prepare to become a global leader as a U.S. diplomat. He plans to use the fellowship to further develop his skills by pursuing a Master’s in International Affairs at George Washington University. Doty is proud to be a Rangel Fellow and a future Foreign Service Officer.
He commented, “As a proud alumnus of MSMS, I am grateful for its role in being the catalyst to current and future accolades. I look forward to representing MSMS and the United States as a U.S. diplomat.”
About the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program is a U.S. Department of State program administered by Howard University under a cooperative agreement with the Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment, Bureau of Human Resources (HR/REE). The Rangel Program aims to enhance the excellence and diversity of the U.S. Foreign Service. Begun in 2003, the Rangel Program selects outstanding fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide selection process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring and professional development activities. Individuals who have successfully completed the Rangel Program are now serving as diplomats around the world, contributing to a more diverse representation and effective execution of U.S. foreign policy. More information may be found online at www.rangelprogram.org.