Valparaiso University Alumnus Selected for Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship

June 7, 2022 – Valparaiso, Indiana – Valparaiso University alumnus Jacob Williams ’17 has been selected for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship. Williams is one of only 15 individuals nationwide selected by the U.S. Department of State for the fellowship.

Williams will receive up to $75,000 in academic funding for a two-year, IT-related master’s degree program, two summer internships, professional development and mentorship. After completing the fellowship, he will receive an appointment in the United States Foreign Service as an information management specialist. 

“It doesn’t feel real yet. At the end of the day, I never thought that the State Department would be looking for people like me,” Williams said. “I think it’s a great way of honoring my past experiences and synthesizing them within the context of this incredible new opportunity.”

Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations and global service from Valpo, specializing in Middle East studies with a minor in computer science. After graduation, he studied Arabic languages in Jordan and Palestine while serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Morocco. Williams is currently an educational technology specialist at Valparaiso University, providing support services to the entire campus community. 

As a FAIT Fellow, Williams will pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity and risk management policy. 

The FAIT Fellowship program is funded by the State Department and seeks highly talented, qualified candidates pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in IT-related degrees and are interested in a Foreign Service career. Candidates represent the ethnic, racial, gender, social, and geographic diversity of the United States.