University of Georgia senior Justin Cohen has been selected as a James C. Gaither Junior Fellow, according to an April 13 announcement. The fellowship, offered by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, provides one-year positions in Washington, D.C., to students interested in international affairs.
The selection highlights the competitiveness of the program and its focus on preparing students for careers in global policy and governance. Cohen is among 18 recipients this year and is the fifth student from UGA to receive this honor, making UGA one of only three public institutions represented among the current fellows.
“We are so pleased that someone as passionate as Justin is the first UGA recipient of the Gaither Junior Fellowship in a decade,” said Meg Amstutz, dean of the Jere W. Morehead Honors College. “Justin is invested in politics and international affairs, and he is well-deserving of this award.”
Cohen majors in political science and international affairs at UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, with a minor in Jewish studies and a certificate in applied politics. He said he plans to focus his career on how institutional structures influence governance outcomes. “I’m honored to be joining the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a Gaither Junior Fellow. The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is doing important work, and I’m eager to contribute,” Cohen said.
His experience includes drafting legislation introduced into Congress, briefing Cabinet officials on appropriations negotiations, preparing State Department leadership for oversight hearings, internships with Senator Jon Ossoff’s office through UGA’s Honors in Washington Internship Program, working at think tanks such as the Niskanen Center, serving as a legislative fellow for Georgia Rep. Spencer Frye, interning at the White House Office of Management and Budget, participating as a delegate to South Korea’s National Assembly Exchange Program in 2025, conducting research with faculty members including translation work related to Holocaust-era postcards from Eastern Europe with Jewish studies faculty members,
and analyzing congressional behavior under program director Maryann Gallagher at UGA’s Benson-Bertsch Center.
On campus he has served within student government judicial roles,
taught first-year honors students professional skills,
and participated actively through music fraternity leadership,
marching band membership,
and ambassadorial roles across several university organizations.
Looking ahead,Cohen will join other fellows this fall working on projects within Carnegie’s Democracy,
Conflict,and Governance Program.
