New Mexico State University social work student Nicole Johnson was selected out of more than 1,000 candidates across the country for the prestigious Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Rangel Fellowship supports extraordinary individuals pursuing careers in the Foreign Service.
Source: NMSU News Release
Johnson will graduate with honors in May with a BA in social work with minors in government, public law and American government and politics. As a first-generation college student, Johnson faced challenges in earning her degree.
“I have a very humble background and I didn’t think opportunities with the Department of State or studying abroad were available for people like me,” Johnson continued. “I found a lot of support when I enrolled in NMSU and found so many opportunities through the government department.”
Having dual citizenship in the U.S. and the Comanche Nation, Johnson was always interested in pursuing a career in government. Her background in social work sparked a passion in her for civil rights and social justice.
“I’ve worked in child welfare for quite some time and am an adoptive parent and former foster parent for 11 years,” Johnson said. “Growing up in the border community and also having that government-to-government relationship with my native government and the U.S. always gave me an interest in international affairs and international studies. I wanted to come to NMSU because they have a great social work program and our proximity to the border provides lots of good opportunities with international programs.”
Johnson has applied for multiple scholarships throughout her college career. After being selected for the Gilman scholarship, a scholarship funded by the Department of State to help underprivileged and underrepresented students explore study abroad options, Johnson traveled to Munich for a work study program with the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
Last December, she found out she was a finalist for the Rangel Fellowship. Only 90 finalists had been chosen out of an initial 1,267 candidates. From there, Johnson began a grueling process of intensive interviews, writing assessments and seminars.
“I got the email on a Friday evening notifying me that I had won, and I think it took me the whole weekend to process it,” Johnson said. “It was like time stood still for a second and all the work I had done to get to this point was completely validated.”
This summer, Johnson will begin her Rangel Fellowship by working with a member of the U.S. Congress on issues related to foreign affairs. Next year, the Department of State will send her overseas where she will work in a U.S. Embassy to get hands-on experience. In the summer of 2026, she will complete the program and embark on her career in Foreign Service as a U.S. diplomat.
Johnson plans to be an advocate for human rights around the world. Understanding first-hand the challenges and needs facing the underrepresented, she hopes to be a voice for marginalized groups wherever she goes. She is thankful for the support she has received from NMSU’s government department.
“There are so many opportunities for underprivileged people and women of color, and I want to really encourage people who feel like these opportunities aren’t for them to give it a try,” Johnson said. “Going forward, I want to be a representative of my native background, women of color and NMSU. I hope there will be more who do the same.”
