Unveiling the Herbert Roback Scholarship: A Guide to Eligibility and Application

The late Herbert Roback was a highly respected public servant who dedicated his 34-year career to encouraging talented and promising students to pursue careers in public service. To honor Mr. Roback's legacy, the National Academy of Public Administration, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of which he was a distinguished Fellow, administers the Herbert Roback Scholarship fund. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarship, its requirements, and related opportunities in the field of public administration.

Honoring a Legacy: The Herbert Roback Scholarship

Founded by the National Academy of Public Administration, this memorial scholarship awards students interested in lifetime careers dedicated to public service. The late Herbert Roback encouraged talented and promising students to consider lifetime careers in the public service. To honor Mr. Roback, the scholarship fund is administered by the National Academy of Public Administration, which is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of which Herbert Roback was a distinguished Fellow.

The scholarship recipient is invited to the annual meeting of the National Academy of Public Administration, held each November. During the meeting, the recipient is formally recognized before the gathered Fellows and distinguished guests of the Academy. Nominations must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee by the student’s school; self-nominations are not accepted. This Scholarship Committee of Academy Fellows reviews the nominations and makes the award, based upon a number of factors.

Eligibility and Nomination Process

Eligible graduate programs may submit up to two students to the Office of Graduate Fellowships & Awards for consideration. Self-nominations are not accepted. The application materials should be collated into one PDF document per student when submitted. The two students selected as Georgetown’s institutional nominees will be notified by May 24, to allow time for honing of statements and securing official transcripts (if unofficial were provided for the campus review).

Scholarships in Public Administration and Related Fields

Public administration is an incredibly important field, with many focuses, specializations, and applications. Several organizations and institutions offer scholarships to students pursuing degrees in public administration or related fields. Here's an overview of some notable opportunities:

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Scholarships

The Government Finance Officers Association (“GFOA”) offers the Public Employee Retirement Research and Administration Scholarship, for full- or part-time graduate students of public administration, business administration, finance, and social sciences. To be considered by the Scholarship Committee, applicants must each submit a completed application form, college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate), a resume, and a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s dean or academic adviser. GFOA also offers the George A. Nielsen Public Investor Scholarship. Each institution is invited to nominate candidates for the two $7,500.00 awards.

University-Specific Scholarships

Students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program at University of Alaska Anchorage or University of Alaska Southeast, who have distinguished themselves academically, are eligible to apply for academic scholarships. Preference for landing awards is given to University of Alaska students. Full-time students at Long Island University, pursuing academic credentials related to Public Administration, and qualified transfer students with GPAs of at least 3.0, are eligible to receive scholarships worth $2,000 each. citizens enrolled at Portland State, in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, with a particular emphasis on Public Works Administration.

Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships

The National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) encourages African-American students to pursue a degree and career in either public administration or public management. The NFBPA offers a number of scholarships. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ and want to pursue a degree in public administration, public policy, political science, or law, should apply to the Pride Foundation scholarship.

Truman Scholarship Foundation

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation offers over 65 competitive scholarships, for undergraduate students pursuing a career in government or public administration.

Additional Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities

Beyond the Herbert Roback Scholarship and specific public administration programs, numerous other scholarships and fellowships can support graduate studies in related fields. These opportunities often focus on specific areas of study, research interests, or demographic backgrounds.

Fellowships for International Study and Research

Several organizations offer fellowships for students pursuing international study or research, enhancing their global perspective and cross-cultural understanding. The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) works to build international understanding with an extensive program of fellowships, grants, intern/trainee sponsorship, publishing and membership offerings. The ASF's award program for study and research abroad has been the Foundation's most long-standing commitment to educational exchange. The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. Every year, it allows doctorate students enrolled in American universities to conduct research in France for up to 10 months. The Fulbright Scholar Program offers research and teaching opportunities not only to college and university faculty and administrators but also to professionals from business and government, as well as artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. There are awards in 45 different disciplines and professional fields. Traditional Fulbright awards are available from two months to an academic year or longer.

Fellowships Focused on Specific Regions or Countries

Some fellowships target research or study in specific regions or countries, fostering expertise in those areas. The German Chancellor Fellowship Programme is for university graduates from the United States, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China with an interest in international issues and demonstrated leadership potential. The programme is targeted at accomplished young professionals who are likely to become decision-makers, thought leaders, and influential voices in their respective fields. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is a nationally competitive award sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance.

Fellowships for Dissertation Research

The American Academy of Religion (AAR) through its International Dissertation Research Grants Program supports AAR student members whose dissertation research requires them to travel outside of the country in which their school or university is located. Grants are intended to help candidates complete their doctoral degrees by offsetting costs of travel, lodging, and other dissertation research-related expenses. The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) offers a fellowship award to support original source dissertation research in the humanities or related social sciences at the Preservation Research and Testing Division of the Preservation Directorate at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The fellowship is offered as part of CLIR's long-established Mellon Fellowship program and is generously funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation sponsors scholarly research that can increase understanding and amelioration of urgent problems of problems of violence, aggression, and dominance. Ten or more dissertation fellowships are awarded each year to graduate students who would complete the writing of a dissertation within the award year. These fellowships of $20,000 each are designed to contribute to the support of the doctoral candidate to enable him or her to complete the thesis in a timely manner and are only appropriate for students approaching the final year of their Ph.D.

Fellowships Promoting Leadership and Public Service

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth.

Subject-Specific Fellowships

A number of fellowships are available for students pursuing specific fields of study. The American Council of Learned Societies, a private, nonprofit federation of 71 national scholarly organizations, is the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and related social sciences. ACLS carries out its mission through a variety of programs across many fields of learning. Awarding peer-reviewed fellowships is central to their work. The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) library houses the largest and most accessible collection of printed materials from first contact through 1876 in what is now the United States, the West Indies and parts of Canada. The AAS also offers short-term visiting academic research fellowships tenable for one to three months each year. The short-term fellowships are available for scholars holding the Ph.D. and for doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation research.

Read also: Lehman Education Fund Requirements

Other Scholarship and Fellowship Programs

Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program: A nine-month work/study program that enables 20 outstanding young American professionals to acquire an in-depth understanding of the political, economic, and cultural environment of Germany and the European Union.
Consortium Research Fellows Program: Invites graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in degree-seeking granting programs in information technology, and the social, behavioral, and computer sciences to apply for fellowships.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Has an ongoing commitment to support graduate students making extraordinary contributions to their fields of study and recognizes the importance of providing assistance to those striving for excellence.
Cosmos Foundation: A Program of Grants-in-Aid to Young Scholars for students enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree in a member institution of the Consortium of Universities.
Council on Foreign Relations: For individuals from the academic, business, professional, government, religious and congregational communities seeking to bridge the gap between analysis and action in foreign policy.
David Library of the American Revolution: Offers short-term Resident Research Fellowships for conducting research in its collections.
Economic Club of Washington, DC: Offers The Philip M. Dearborn Fellowship Award and The Vernon E. Jordan Fellowship Awards in Economics, Finance, International Trade and Business.
Getty Foundation: Supports individuals and institutions committed to advancing the understanding and preservation of the visual arts locally and throughout the world.
Bryce Harlow Foundation Scholarship Program: Dedicated to enhancing the quality of professional advocacy and increasing the understanding of its essential role in the development of sound public policy.
Healthcare Administration Scholarships: A leading online resource; helping students find scholarship assistance from various associations and health organizations.
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowships: Introduced to a variety of teaching resources, curriculum materials, research and experts in the field that help them study and reflect on their work as teachers.
Library Company of Philadelphia and The Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Jointly award one-month fellowships for research in residence in either or both collections.
Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts: Offers two-year postdoctoral teaching fellowships for teacher-scholars who seek to renew and enrich their intellectual and spiritual lives while preparing for leadership roles in teaching and administration in Catholic or Protestant institutions of higher education.
Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology Program: Designed to encourage high-quality research that promises both to contribute to theological inquiry and to provide leadership in theological scholarship.
McNeil Center for Early American Studies: Offers pre-doctoral dissertation fellowships each year.
Andrew Mellon Foundation: Supports a wide range of initiatives to strengthen the institutions that sustain scholarship in the humanities and "humanistic" social sciences.
Michigan Society of Fellows: Promotes academic and creative excellence in the humanities, the arts, the social, physical, and life sciences, and in the professions.
Microsoft Research Graduate Women's Scholarship: A one-year scholarship program for outstanding women graduate students and is designed to help increase the number of women pursuing a PhD.

Johns Hopkins SAIS Scholarships

Johns Hopkins SAIS funding is awarded to US and non-US citizens. Please keep in mind that very few scholarship awards cover full tuition.

Merit-Based Scholarships

The Dean’s Scholarship: Awarded to students with outstanding academic and personal achievement.
The Global Scholarship: Offered to international students (non-US citizens and non-permanent residents) who demonstrate strong academic and personal achievement.
Scholarships for MIEF students: Awarded based on outstanding academic and professional achievement. MIEF scholarships are available to both US and international students.
Scholarships for full and part-time MIPP students: Awarded based on outstanding academic and professional achievement and are available to both US and international students.
Merit-based scholarships: Awarded to full-time DIA students, irrespective of citizenship, who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional achievement.

Need-Based Scholarships

The Public Service Fellowship: A prestigious award offered to select students who have a strong interest in, or demonstrated experience in, working in the public sector. This award is based on both merit and financial need.
Technology and International Affairs scholarship: A prestigious award which provides vital need-based financial support for MAIR students with an interest in the intersection of technology and international affairs to address global challenges.
The Public Service Scholarship: A prestigious award offered to select full-time and part-time MIPP students who are engaged in public service. This award is based on both merit and financial need.

Named Scholarships

Priscilla Mason Scholarship: Supports students intending to pursue a career in US government service. Applicants must be in need of financial aid, a US citizen, and a first-year MAIR student. The student selected will be offered a full tuition scholarship.
W.W. Norton & Company 9/11 Commission Report Scholarship: Supports two students, one American and one student from a predominantly Muslim country, who will pursue careers in promoting international understanding and preventing terrorism.
Charles B. Thomas R: Provides assistance for a student pursuing a better understanding of US foreign policy.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund: Supports graduate students in any recognized field of study in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences.

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