Sonia Banker, an Indian American student at the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded a prestigious Carnegie fellowship to research U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy.
Sonia Banker, an Indian American student at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected for a one-year fellowship at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. She will serve as a James C. Gaither Junior Fellow, focusing on the organization’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance program.
Banker, who hails from San Francisco and is majoring in political science, is among only 18 students chosen nationwide for this honor. Notably, she is the fourth student from Penn to receive this fellowship since its establishment over 30 years ago. Her selection comes after a distinguished undergraduate career characterized by a strong commitment to grassroots advocacy and policy reform.
With deep roots in the Indian American community, Banker has garnered national recognition for her leadership in successful education policy campaigns aimed at increasing public school funding in both California and Philadelphia. Her activism is highlighted in the 2024 book, Don’t Wait: Three Girls Who Fought for Change and Won.
At the University of Pennsylvania, Banker has held significant roles, including serving as the editor-in-chief of the Penn Political Review and taking on leadership positions in the Government and Politics Association. Her professional background includes experience with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Philadelphia City Council, and the office of the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Jane Holahan, executive director of Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, praised Banker’s work, stating, “Sonia’s work demonstrates a rare blend of rigorous academic research and practical legislative advocacy.”
As a junior fellow at Carnegie, Banker will assist senior scholars with research and editing in various areas, including nuclear nonproliferation, foreign policy, economics, technology, and democracy and governance. She will also have the opportunity to conduct her own research, engage in meetings with high-level officials, and contribute to books, reports, Congressional testimony, and other scholarly works.
The Carnegie fellowship aims to bridge the gap between undergraduate education and professional careers in international affairs. Following her tenure at Carnegie, Banker plans to pursue a career in law and public policy, continuing her advocacy work that has defined her time at the University of Pennsylvania.
According to The American Bazaar, this fellowship represents a significant step in Banker’s journey as she seeks to influence U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy through her future endeavors.