Six Clemson University students were selected for the 2025 NextGen Service Fellowship, a new national program administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Rockefeller Foundation. Clemson’s recipients are among 52 fellows nationwide, selected from only nine universities.
The fellowship offers students immersive, service-learning experiences that deepen global awareness and foster careers dedicated to international development.
Fellows will spend four weeks with nonprofit or community-based organizations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia this summer. All have been paired with a host country and site they either selected or were placed in by program staff.
Their work will help address issues ranging from sustainability and education to public health and food security.
Clemson Fellows include:
David Ryan Gregory from Fort Mill, South Carolina, graduated with a degree in economics in May. He was placed with Fundar: Centro de Análisis e Investigación in Mexico City.
In the future, Gregory hopes to earn a master’s in development economics before pursuing a career focused on solving crises faced by developing countries.
Paul Kupfer, a mechanical engineering major and Honors student from Irmo, South Carolina, will work with Gregory at Fundar: Centro de Análisis e Investigación in Mexico City.
In the future, he plans to earn a master’s degree and work in humanitarian engineering, which applies engineering solutions to humanitarian issues.
Mary “Elizabeth” Mulligan, an Honors student from Lexington, South Carolina, graduated with a biological sciences degree in May. She will work with Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir (ILSB) in Mexico City.
In the future, Mulligan plans to earn her medical degree before completing a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in global health and hopes to serve organizations that provide international aid.
Grace Nammouz from Clemson, South Carolina, graduated with an environmental and natural resources degree in May. She will work with the PHE Ethiopia Consortium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In the future, Nammouz plans to build a career and/or pursue graduate work in sustainable agriculture, focusing on community outreach and advocacy.
Noah Willsea from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a Ph.D. student in plant and environmental sciences. He will work with Nammouz at the PHE Ethiopia Consortium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
After he completes his Ph.D., Willsea plans to apply his horticultural training and knowledge to improve agricultural production through research, education or service roles.
Matthew Porzio an Honors student from Charleston, South Carolina, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in May. Porzio declined his award to pursue other opportunities.
Fellows were selected based on academic excellence, leadership, adaptability and a demonstrated commitment to service or development-focused careers. The program covers airfare, housing, meals, insurance and additional support costs.
“These students represent the forward-thinking, globally minded leaders emerging from Clemson’s academic and research communities,” said Brian Watkins, Associate Vice President for Global Programs and Partnerships at Clemson University. “Thanks to the generous support of the Rockefeller Foundation, these exemplary individuals will be empowered to positively impact communities at home and around the world.”
After they complete their international placements, every Fellow will share a reflective report outlining how the experience shaped their professional development and contributed to the communities they served. They will also receive virtual career exploration opportunities that connect them with other organizations focused on global development and public service.
“We’re proud that Clemson is among the select list of universities participating in this new fellowship program,” said Robyn Curtis, director of the Office of Major Fellowships. “These immersive experiences will broaden our students’ academic perspectives and add a global dimension to their education — advancing Clemson’s mission to prepare graduates for lives of leadership and service.”
Students interested in the NextGen Service Fellowship or other nationally competitive programs should contact the Office of Major Fellowships at 864-656-9704 or email fellowships@clemson.edu.
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