KSU student selected for highly competitive State Department fellowship

Kennesaw State University’s Prince Uduka is one of 15 students selected nationwide by the U.S. Department of State for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship. Udukais studying information technology in the College of Computing and Software Engineering at KSU. 

A first-generation college student, Uduka, was born and raised in Nigeria. He moved to the U.S. when he turned 18 and earned an associate degree at another university. He entered the workforce for a few years to support himself before pursuing a bachelor’s degree at KSU. Uduka is a member of the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society and is fluent in both English and Igbo. “Working for the State Department is a distinguished honor that will allow me to serve our nation,” Uduka said. “I am excited by the prospect of joining a program tasked with the challenges of enhancing the readiness of our nation while emphasizing on the U.S. Department of State mission and operational outcomes.” 

In recounting his love for computers Uduka said,  “I’ve had an interest in computers and information technology since I was little. This fellowship will allow me to work with different systems and will give me the opportunity to work with diverse cultures and languages.”

The fellowship program Uduka will participate in includes two summer internships, up to $75,000 in academic funding for his junior and senior years, professional development programming, and an appointment in the Foreign Service as an information management specialist upon completion of the fellowship. Through the fellowship, Uduka will complete a domestic internship in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2023 and an international internship at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the summer of 2024.

“At one point, I was working two jobs and going to school,” Uduka said. “Juggling those responsibilities was difficult, but I persevered because my dream has always been to obtain my bachelor’s degree and work in the information technology field.”

After successfully completing the program, fellows receive appointments as Foreign Service information management specialists for the next five years and will use technology skills to support U.S. diplomacy abroad.

Said CCSE Dean Sumanth Yenduri, “This fellowship attracts top technology talent in the nation, and to be selected is an incredible accomplishment. We look forward to watching Prince’s successes with the State Department.”