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Capitol Hill Fellowship Open to CWA Scholars
Last June, Marilyn Salas, a nurse-midwife and mother of three from Albuquerque, N.M., completed her master’s degree and promptly packed her bags for Washington, D.C. She’s now handling health and environmental issues for Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia. Her ticket to Capitol Hill? A CWA Congressional Fellowship on Women and Public Policy.
Marilyn is the granddaughter of Lionel “Mac” Meloy, who belonged to CWA for almost 40 years. Meloy began as a lineman in Tulsa, Okla. in the 1920s, where he met and married Marilyn’s grandmother, Amy Robbins, a telephone operator. Because of her family’s heritage in the Communications Workers of America, Marilyn was eligible for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about public policymaking at its source — the U.S. Congress.
Salas is one of 202 outstanding women scholars who have mastered the ins and outs, ups and downs, ways and means of the political process. And if you are a member of the CWA family enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s, doctoral or other professional degree program, you can join their ranks.
The fellowships are offered by the Women’s Research and Education Institute and are now in their 20th successful year. WREI is a nonpartisan resource center that strengthens the links between scholars, policymakers and opinion leaders so that public policy research on women will be translated into action.
Right now, WREI is searching for a CWA member — or a member’s relative — who is pursuing or has received a graduate degree within the past 18 months and wants a chance to work with the U.S. Senate and House of Represent-atives.
Each fellow works 30 hours a week on a House or Senate member’s or congressional committee staff, receiving an optional six hours credit at her home university. The WREI fellowship, which will run from January through August 2001, includes a $9,500 stipend, up to $1,500 toward tuition and $500 to purchase health insurance.
Josephine Jenkins took advantage of this unique educational opportunity in 1993-94. A construction splicer who served on the CWA Local 9411 executive board as a steward and health and safety officer, Josephine handled education and labor issues for Connecticut Rep. Barbara Kennelly while earning a master’s in public administration at Golden Gate University.
Another CWA fellow, Kathy Sterling, then president of CWA Local 4203, was working on her master’s in conflict resolution at Antioch University in 1994. She went to Capitol Hill and for nine months researched labor law reform and telecommunications for Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky of Pennsylvania.
Many WREI Fellows have remained in Washington, working to improve the way American women are treated in federal programs. Others have gone back to their home states to lobby, teach, and run for office. Members of Congress who have benefitted from the energy, perspective and commitment of this talented pool of academicians now vie to have a fellow placed on their staff.
CWA candidates can learn more about the only congressional fellowship designed for, by and about women. Check out WREI’s Website at www.wrei.org or call WREI’s Susan Scanlan at 202-628-0444. Applications are now available online and are due June 15. Final selection is scheduled for August.
Marilyn is the granddaughter of Lionel “Mac” Meloy, who belonged to CWA for almost 40 years. Meloy began as a lineman in Tulsa, Okla. in the 1920s, where he met and married Marilyn’s grandmother, Amy Robbins, a telephone operator. Because of her family’s heritage in the Communications Workers of America, Marilyn was eligible for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about public policymaking at its source — the U.S. Congress.
Salas is one of 202 outstanding women scholars who have mastered the ins and outs, ups and downs, ways and means of the political process. And if you are a member of the CWA family enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s, doctoral or other professional degree program, you can join their ranks.
The fellowships are offered by the Women’s Research and Education Institute and are now in their 20th successful year. WREI is a nonpartisan resource center that strengthens the links between scholars, policymakers and opinion leaders so that public policy research on women will be translated into action.
Right now, WREI is searching for a CWA member — or a member’s relative — who is pursuing or has received a graduate degree within the past 18 months and wants a chance to work with the U.S. Senate and House of Represent-atives.
Each fellow works 30 hours a week on a House or Senate member’s or congressional committee staff, receiving an optional six hours credit at her home university. The WREI fellowship, which will run from January through August 2001, includes a $9,500 stipend, up to $1,500 toward tuition and $500 to purchase health insurance.
Josephine Jenkins took advantage of this unique educational opportunity in 1993-94. A construction splicer who served on the CWA Local 9411 executive board as a steward and health and safety officer, Josephine handled education and labor issues for Connecticut Rep. Barbara Kennelly while earning a master’s in public administration at Golden Gate University.
Another CWA fellow, Kathy Sterling, then president of CWA Local 4203, was working on her master’s in conflict resolution at Antioch University in 1994. She went to Capitol Hill and for nine months researched labor law reform and telecommunications for Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky of Pennsylvania.
Many WREI Fellows have remained in Washington, working to improve the way American women are treated in federal programs. Others have gone back to their home states to lobby, teach, and run for office. Members of Congress who have benefitted from the energy, perspective and commitment of this talented pool of academicians now vie to have a fellow placed on their staff.
CWA candidates can learn more about the only congressional fellowship designed for, by and about women. Check out WREI’s Website at www.wrei.org or call WREI’s Susan Scanlan at 202-628-0444. Applications are now available online and are due June 15. Final selection is scheduled for August.