Whitman Grads Go Global With New Fellowship

Whitman College is proud to announce the creation of a new annual fellowship that supports transformative international experiences by providing graduating seniors with $10,000 each, enabling them to pursue meaningful research projects abroad following graduation. Allegria Iteka ’25 and Terence Mahlatini ’25 are the first recipients of the new Bassett Traveling Fellowship. 

Funded by a generous bequest from Mary Grace Bassett ’47, the Bassett Traveling Fellowship is modeled on the national Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and honors the academic excellence, global curiosity and creative vision of Whitman students.

Provost and Dean of the Faculty Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak praises the fellowship’s impact. “We are so grateful to the Bassett family for setting up this fellowship to support these excellent graduating seniors,” she says. “I am thrilled that we are able to provide what I’m sure will be unforgettable experiences of traveling outside of the United States and of immersing themselves in other cultures. Through this fellowship, they will continue their learning after graduation.”

Allegria Iteka: Exploring Community in the Black Diaspora

Economics major Allegria Iteka’s project will take her to Salvador, Brazil, and Toronto, Canada, where she will explore how Black communities who’ve migrated around the world build and sustain themselves through grassroots organizing, cultural preservation and economic empowerment. She plans to work with Grupo Cultural Obara in Salvador and connect with University of Toronto Professor of English David Chariandy, an expert in African Canadian and Caribbean literatures.

“My project centers on how these communities redefine ‘home’ in the face of systemic violence, reclaim public and private spaces, and preserve cultural identity,” Iteka explains. “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to conduct this work and for the incredible support I’ve received from Whitman.”

Terence Mahlatini: Building Technological Connections Across Africa

Computer Science major Terence Mahlatini, a Davis United World College Scholar, will travel through Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to investigate how African nations are integrating technology into education and daily life. In Zimbabwe, he will work with Uncommon, a nonprofit focused on tech literacy, and visit their innovation hubs throughout the country.

“My goal is to understand what scalable, community-driven digital solutions could look like in Zimbabwe,” says Mahlatini. “This award allows me to take the first step toward a long-term goal of shaping equitable tech solutions across the African continent.”

Learn more about fellowship and grant opportunities at Whitman.