On March 13, 2013, Morgan Cassell, a Seattle native and University of Washington alumna, was awarded a 2013 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide contest. The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. The Director of the Rangel Program, Patricia Scroggs, stated, “We are thrilled to have Morgan as part of the program. Morgan has already demonstrated impressive academic achievements in her studies at the University of Washington, as well as a strong commitment to public service and positive global engagement in her professional endeavors. I have no doubt that she will excel in graduate school and make important contributions to promoting global peace and prosperity as a U.S. diplomat.”
Morgan Cassell, who was born in Seattle, is the daughter of Beth Harper and Richard Cassell. As a sophomore in Garfield high school and a participant in the One World Now program, Morgan had her first international experience in Morocco. It was there that she discovered her love for Middle Eastern culture. She went on to study at the University of Washington, earning degrees in both Political Science and Near Eastern Studies. Her love for the Middle East guided her to study abroad in Turkey and Jordan. After graduation, Morgan returned to Turkey to intern at the intercultural Exchange Programs Foundation. Morgan is currently in Indonesia, teaching English with the Fulbright Program. Morgan will continue to pursue her passion for international clan, race, and gender issues by studying conflict resolution, specifically within the Islamic civilizations, in graduate school this fall. A talented linguist, she is proficient in Arabic, Turkish, and Spanish.
The Rangel Fellowship will provide Morgan with approximately $90,000 in benefits over a two year period to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs. As part of the Rangel Program, Morgan will work this summer for a Member of Congress on issues regarding foreign affairs. In the summer of 2014, the U.S. Department of State will send her overseas to work in a U.S. Embassy to get hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service. Upon graduation, she will become a U.S. diplomat, embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of service to his country.