Five exceptional LBJ School students were awarded the NextGen Service Fellowship, giving them the opportunity to travel abroad this summer to gain hands-on experience and create meaningful change around the world.
Supported by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and The Rockefeller Foundation, the fellowship allows LBJ students to intern with organizations across the globe, applying their skills to real-world challenges while expanding their professional horizons.
We’re excited to highlight two of the five fellows and share a closer look at their experiences abroad.
Connor Sale (MGPS ’26)
Connor Sale spent his summer in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand, interning with the Inclusive Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for migrant children and refugees. His work was multifaceted: conducting qualitative research on migrant English teachers, designing educational materials, creating a user manual for incorporating LEGOs into classrooms and teaching English to 24 refugee students.
“Even though my specialization is in defense and national security, this experience broadened my perspective on the real-world consequences of conflict and the importance of supporting communities in post-conflict settings.”
Connor credits the LBJ School’s focus on global policy and critical analysis for preparing him to approach this internship with a problem-solving mindset. Currently taking an International Development course, he is reflecting on his summer experience through the lens of scholarship and real-world policy analysis.
For Connor, adjusting to life in Mae Sot was a challenge. Navigating a small town on the Myanmar border, where Burmese, Karen, and Thai were widely spoken, was a completely new experience for him. Yet he embraced the journey, and one standout cultural moment came when he learned about Lahpet Thoke, a traditional Burmese tea leaf salad.
After graduation, Connor plans to enter the Foreign Service or civilian military policy field, focusing on space competition policy. While his goals remain rooted in security, his summer abroad inspired him to consider roles addressing post-conflict dynamics, international development and refugee education.
Annie Joost (MGPS ’26)
Annie Joost interned in Chiang Mai, Thailand with Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), a nonprofit addressing food waste across Southeast Asia. Her responsibilities included coordinating with local food donors, advocating for food policy, organizing volunteers, assisting with grant writing and participating directly in food capture and redistribution. From donating food to women’s shelters and low-income communities to planting rice in fields for future donations, Annie engaged in every step of ensuring food reached those who needed it most.
“The NextGen Fellowship allowed me to see the tangible impact of sustainable policies in real time. From harvesting fruit to delivering meals, I realized how small, coordinated efforts can create meaningful change in communities, and that inspired me to think even bigger about global solutions to urban sustainability challenges.”
Annie credits her LBJ coursework on sustainable and equitable urban policy for preparing her to connect theory with practice while working abroad. She plans to take Dr. Patel’s food policy PRP this upcoming year, using her summer experience to inform her academic work and future projects.
With prior experience in Southeast Asia, Annie was able to adjust to living abroad easily. A highlight of her summer was visiting Japan to connect with a fellow LBJ student interning on sustainability initiatives, further expanding her understanding of regional development practices and collaborative learning across borders.
After graduation, Annie plans to work as a policy consultant focusing on sustainable urban development, tackling challenges in cities to ensure communities are built equitably and efficiently. Her internship reinforced her passion for international work and deepened her commitment to implementing policies that make a tangible difference.
Through the NextGen Service Fellowship, both Connor and Annie gained invaluable hands-on experience and broadened their understanding of various cultures, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful, lasting impact in global policy and development.
Learn more about fellowships available to LBJ School students.