AIARD Scholarship Fund
Background
The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) launched the AIARD Scholarship Fund in 2015 to support the advanced education of outstanding students in the field of international agriculture and rural development. The Fund is an innovative partnership of the private sector, universities, non-government organizations, and individuals. Led by long-time supporter, Bill Guyton, initial donors include The University of Missouri, Texas A&M University, The Pennsylvania State University, and The World Cocoa Foundation. Additional universities, organizations and private sector partners are encouraged to contribute.
Selection Process and Criteria
AIARD Scholarship Fund seeks to give an scholarship (a stipend of 5,000 USD) to the top “AIARD Future Leader” selected from a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students in a field related to international agriculture. The AIARD Scholarship Fund awards a small competitive scholarship. A team of senior members within the AIARD Executive Board selects the recipients, based on the criteria of leadership skills, academic excellence and fields of specialty of the candidates. Recipients of these scholarships are tackling the global food security needs of the next generation.
The Scholarship is intended to be used for research and research presentation purposes by the awardee. If you are not familiar with AIARD or the Future Leaders Forum, please feel free to visit the respective web pages.
Testimonials
Dr. Sarah Eissler, AIARD Scholarship Fund 2015 Awardee:
"In 2015, as a Penn State Master student, I applied for and was accepted to AIARD's Future Leaders Forum. It was such a fantastic experience to meet like-minded graduate and undergraduate students from my cohort and to network with professionals from the likes of DAI, FAO, The World Bank, USDA, and others. After the conference, I was shocked and honored to also receive the AIARD Scholarship, which enabled me to conduct scoping visits and piloting for my dissertation research in Indonesia. I used these funds to cover my travel and expenses to meet with colleagues and establish fieldwork connections in Vietnam and Indonesia, and I wouldn't have been able to do that without the AIARD Scholarship. My dissertation research explored gender dynamics amongst small-scale cocoa farmers in Indonesia and the strategies they employed to adapt to climate change. I graduated with my Ph.D. in Rural Sociology at Penn State in 2019 and have since been working as an independent consultant for various international development and research companies like IFPRI, Cultural Practice LLC, Helen Keller International, and others."
Dr. Kate Vaiknoras, AIARD Scholarship Fund 2019 Awardee:
"In 2019, I was selected for the AIARD Future Leaders Forum. At the end of the conference, it was announced that AIARD had also selected me for a professional development scholarship. I felt excited and honored, especially considering I had not known about the scholarship prior to being awarded! I used part of my scholarship funds to attend an academic conference later that summer, where I attended a research methods workshop, a networking lunch, and several sessions to learn about research taking place in my field. I also made connections with researchers from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and learned about their open job opportunities. One of those connections led to a job offer a few months later, and I am starting my position as a Research Agricultural Economist at ERS in May. I am thankful to AIARD for giving me the opportunity to network and helping to launch my career!"
Questions? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
We are also seeking your support to continue this important project that will help the next generation of agriculture leaders who are currently completing degrees at land-grant and other U.S. universities.
The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) launched the AIARD Scholarship Fund in 2015 to support the advanced education of outstanding students in the field of international agriculture and rural development. The Fund is an innovative partnership of the private sector, universities, non-government organizations, and individuals. Led by long-time supporter, Bill Guyton, initial donors include The University of Missouri, Texas A&M University, The Pennsylvania State University, and The World Cocoa Foundation. Additional universities, organizations and private sector partners are encouraged to contribute.
Selection Process and Criteria
AIARD Scholarship Fund seeks to give an scholarship (a stipend of 5,000 USD) to the top “AIARD Future Leader” selected from a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students in a field related to international agriculture. The AIARD Scholarship Fund awards a small competitive scholarship. A team of senior members within the AIARD Executive Board selects the recipients, based on the criteria of leadership skills, academic excellence and fields of specialty of the candidates. Recipients of these scholarships are tackling the global food security needs of the next generation.
The Scholarship is intended to be used for research and research presentation purposes by the awardee. If you are not familiar with AIARD or the Future Leaders Forum, please feel free to visit the respective web pages.
Testimonials
Dr. Sarah Eissler, AIARD Scholarship Fund 2015 Awardee:
"In 2015, as a Penn State Master student, I applied for and was accepted to AIARD's Future Leaders Forum. It was such a fantastic experience to meet like-minded graduate and undergraduate students from my cohort and to network with professionals from the likes of DAI, FAO, The World Bank, USDA, and others. After the conference, I was shocked and honored to also receive the AIARD Scholarship, which enabled me to conduct scoping visits and piloting for my dissertation research in Indonesia. I used these funds to cover my travel and expenses to meet with colleagues and establish fieldwork connections in Vietnam and Indonesia, and I wouldn't have been able to do that without the AIARD Scholarship. My dissertation research explored gender dynamics amongst small-scale cocoa farmers in Indonesia and the strategies they employed to adapt to climate change. I graduated with my Ph.D. in Rural Sociology at Penn State in 2019 and have since been working as an independent consultant for various international development and research companies like IFPRI, Cultural Practice LLC, Helen Keller International, and others."
Dr. Kate Vaiknoras, AIARD Scholarship Fund 2019 Awardee:
"In 2019, I was selected for the AIARD Future Leaders Forum. At the end of the conference, it was announced that AIARD had also selected me for a professional development scholarship. I felt excited and honored, especially considering I had not known about the scholarship prior to being awarded! I used part of my scholarship funds to attend an academic conference later that summer, where I attended a research methods workshop, a networking lunch, and several sessions to learn about research taking place in my field. I also made connections with researchers from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and learned about their open job opportunities. One of those connections led to a job offer a few months later, and I am starting my position as a Research Agricultural Economist at ERS in May. I am thankful to AIARD for giving me the opportunity to network and helping to launch my career!"
Questions? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
We are also seeking your support to continue this important project that will help the next generation of agriculture leaders who are currently completing degrees at land-grant and other U.S. universities.
If you would like to make a donation to the AIARD Scholarship Fund, please click below.
Please contact AIARD Secretary at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to donate a different amount.
Please contact AIARD Secretary at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to donate a different amount.
