Student Professional Development Fund
The Clements Center awards funds to undergraduate and graduate students who secure unpaid internships in the fields of national security and foreign policy. Awards will be granted to those students whose work best reflects the mission and goals of the Clements Center. Past recipients have interned with the US Department of State, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United Nations, The Department of State, the Institute for the Study of War, and the American Enterprise Institute.
2025-2026 Recipients:
Priyanka Bhutani
Cambridge Security Initiative
Emma Hamilton
Cambridge Security Initiative
Caleb Mulugeta
National Democratic Institute
Eva White
National Democratic Institute
Margaret Hewitt
Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Brittni Palkert
CID Gallup
Tanvi Merianda
U.S. House of Representatives
Rendon Reinarz
National Democratic Institute (Ukraine office in Kosovo)
Nitish Mirchandani
Department of Defense, Near East South Asia (NESA) Center
Bianca Schutz
UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights
Previous Recipients:
Because internships in foreign and defense policy can be an essential part of professional development, the Clements Center wants to help UT students in identifying and pursuing internship opportunities. We have created a database containing information on a broad range of internships in foreign and defense policy. UT students are encouraged to use this in researching and applying for internships.
Interested in Applying?
Applications for funding for the 2026–2027 academic year are now open.
Please direct questions to Kelli Ray at kelli.ray@austin.utexas.edu.
**The Clements Center does not award funding to cover lost wages during remote or virtual internships and only under exceptional circumstances will we consider funding virtual internships. To be considered for funding for remote internships, students must demonstrate tangible financial impact that results from the virtual internship.**