Inspiring the Next Generation of Watson Fellows

Four Whitman College alums returned to campus in March to encourage current students to pursue the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship—a life-changing opportunity for global exploration and growth.

Whitman’s Fellowships and Grants team within the Career and Community Engagement Center hosted recent graduates Katie Jose ’23, Annie Means ’22 and Cameron Connor ’20 for a campuswide panel moderated by fellow Whitman alum and Watson recipient David Sprunger ’97, who now serves as Whitman’s Director of Instructional and Learning Technology. The four shared their experiences across the globe, detailing the highs and lows of their Watson year and how the fellowship shaped their future careers.

What Is the Watson?

The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is a highly coveted opportunity for recent college grads to grow personally and academically, explore globally, and make a lasting impact on communities around the world. Each year, the college nominates passionate seniors to apply and strongly recommends their submissions for review.

Fellowship recipients receive a $40,000 stipend to be used over a year to conduct research abroad. In addition, the Watson Foundation covers the cost of travel health insurance and up to 12 months of student loan payment reimbursements for each fellow. Among other benefits, an emergency response team is available 24/7 and fellows have access to the Watson alumni network.

This unique opportunity allows fellows to continue to gain a global education by immersing themselves in diverse cultures, expanding their worldviews and cultivating essential leadership skills.

“Whitman students have a network of people who have gone on to do extraordinary things,” says Dr. Jess Hernandez, Director for Fellowships and Grants. “Many Watson Fellows go on to medical school, graduate school, or even launch their own nonprofits or organizations.”

Whitman Experiences, Watson Journeys

While each of their journeys was unique, all three fellows’ Whitman experiences laid a solid foundation for their global research. They shared insights about how their time at Whitman prepared them for the fellowship—and how their year abroad propelled their careers.

During her Watson year, Katie Jose (above) gained hands-on experience understanding traditional medicine. Her project took her to 17 countries primarily in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe. Her fellowship deepened her understanding of global health care—an experience she continues to draw from in her current work as an anesthesiology assistant, where she seeks to merge traditional healing practices with modern medicine. Read more about her Watson experience on her blog. 

While at Whitman, Jose was involved in several health-focused student clubs and organizations and served as President of both the SOS Volunteer Club and the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. She double-majored in Global Health and Hispanic Studies. And, supported by a Whitman Internship Grant, she also gained experience running a clinic in Walla Walla. 

During her fellowship, Jose wrote a book on medicinal herbs from around the world and is now applying to medical schools. She aims to become a pediatric physician and open a clinic for uninsured and underinsured patients.

Journalist Annie Means (above) sailed across the Atlantic to six countries during her Watson year to shine a light on women in the maritime industry. Her work centers around the challenges they face in a male-dominated field and how they are leading change from within the industry.

Whitman’s vibrant campus life laid the foundation for Means’ impactful Watson year. On campus, she held leadership roles on the Sustainability Committee and the Associated Students of Whitman College Sustainability Council. She also gained journalism experience while working on campus as a photographer/videographer and podcast reporter. And she was selected for the Ben Rabinowitz Award for producing a short documentary spotlighting the need for change in national blood drive policies. 

Thanks to Whitman Internship Grants, she also pursued meaningful internships with a Whittie-owned production company in Seattle, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.

Means now works as a freelance maritime journalist writing for magazines and filming documentaries. She plans to attend graduate school, focusing on how food, ecology and culture are interconnected. She shares personal and professional updates in her monthly newsletter.

Cameron Connor (above) used his Watson Fellowship to meet with community organizers in five countries across the Western Hemisphere to learn how collective action can bring about social change. His research emphasized the power of community-driven solutions and how having a collective mindset “helps people win.” 

Connor is no stranger to leadership and community-building roles. As a student, the Politics and Rhetoric, Writing and Public Discourse double major took on leadership positions in various campus groups. He also volunteered in local schools and worked as the Neighborhood Engagement Program Coordinator for the City of Walla Walla. He was selected as a Newman Civic Fellow for being a community changemaker and leader. 

Now, he teaches and conducts research on international innovations in community organizing at Tufts University.

Empowering Students for Global Impact

The Watson Fellowship is just one of many life-changing opportunities that Whitman’s Career and Community Engagement Center empowers students to pursue. These programs challenge students to think critically, engage deeply with diverse cultures, and hone the leadership skills necessary to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Going into grad school with research experience already under your belt is vital,” says Cat Diebel-Wilson, Career Development and Fellowships Specialist. “It sets you apart as a candidate. These types of fellowships help you clarify what it is that you want to do with your life.”

For more information about fellowships or other career-advancing opportunities at Whitman, visit the Career and Community Engagement Center.