Letter of Recommendation for the. Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program. 

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Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program

Contact Information for Recommender (phone and e-mail)

Guidelines for Recommendations:  The Payne Fellowship Program Selection Panel would appreciate your 
assessment of the applicant’s past performance and potential to succeed in graduate school and the U.S. Agency 
for International Development Foreign Service.  The panel is interested in your assessment of the applicant’s 
strengths and any areas for improvement.  Of particular interest are the individual’s interpersonal, oral 
communication, writing, analytical, organization, leadership and cultural adaptability skills.  The panel is also 
interested to hear about the individual’s interest in public service, integrity, resourcefulness, and composure.  
Recommenders should address in their comments those areas of which they have knowledge.

1) Please rank the applicant in the following areas (check appropriate box):

Percentile 
Top 1% 
Top 10 % 
Top 25% 
Top 45% 
About 50% 
Below 50% 
N/A

2) Please provide a concise narrative or letter (in 12-point font or above) that provides your assessment of the 
applicant’s strengths, especially related to the characteristics/skills in the guidelines above.  Please also state 
your views on his/her potential to succeed in an graduate school (International Development) and the Foreign 
Service.  Please highlight any areas for improvement.  Your narrative should not exceed two pages (12-point 
font) when drafted in a Word document.

Submission Directions: You will submit this form with your official letter of recommendation via pdf. or 
Microsoft Word document to paynefellows@howard.edu.  Our staff will attach your letter of recommendation 
and the rankings to the applicants application. All items must be received by the application deadline; October 
26, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST.

Payne Fellowship Application 
Prof. Mohamed Abdulzaher

CEO of the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF)

Digitally signed by Mohamed Abdulzaher 
Date: 2023.11.04 13:17:56 +04'00'
04/11/2023

Letters of Recommendation for the Charles B

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