WKU student awarded U.S. Foreign Service Internship

Alexandria Knipp, a WKU student from Olive Hill, has been awarded a prestigious U.S. Foreign Service Internship from the U.S. Department of State.

Alexandria Knipp

Knipp, a sophomore with majors in International Affairs and Arabic, will spend one summer in Washington, D.C., and a second summer at a U.S. Embassy overseas. In addition to the paid internships, Knipp will receive several extra instructional modules to prepare her for working in the State Department and eventually as a Foreign Service officer.

“I am very passionate about pursuing a career with the State Department as a Foreign Service officer, so this program is exactly what I’m looking for,” Knipp said. “I believe it will introduce me to a world of possibilities I wouldn’t have access to otherwise.”

Knipp said she will “dedicate myself to the bureau I will be working in and give all my effort to learn in-depth about the daily operations and expectations of the State Department. As a student from a very small town in Appalachia, I look forward to sharing with others how many international opportunities can be within their reach, especially with the help of a dedicated university like WKU.”

Michael McClellan, WKU’s Diplomat-in-Residence in the Office of International Programs, said Knipp’s acceptance to this highly selective program proves once again that WKU students can be competitive on the national level with students from the top universities.

“By choosing her for this program, the Department of State recognizes her potential to serve in the Foreign Service some day and is investing now in her future to give her the training and professional development she may one day use in service to her country as a diplomat,” McClellan said. “This award speaks highly not only of Alexandria, but also of WKU.”

Knipp cited others for helping with her successful application.

“I know that I wouldn’t have received this fellowship without the help of Diplomat-in-Residence McClellan, State Department Diplomat-in-Residence Michele Jones, WKU’s Office of Scholar Development, my family and the grace of God,” she said.

Contact: Michael McClellan, (270) 745-7002