Fellowship Program
Pallas Foundation is proud to have created the Pallas Fellowship Program to support the education and professional development of emerging leaders from traditionally underrepresented groups in national security. Fellows participate in a paid program where they assist in the day-to-day operations of the firm, provide tailored research, and develop products for clients, all while being immersed in and engaging with the national security and policymaking communities in Washington, DC.
Throughout the program, Fellows have many opportunities to interact with senior officials and officers across the Department of Defense, State Department, National Security Council, Intelligence Community, and other government agencies and offices. They also gain exposure to the broader national security ecosystem and its impact by working with leading technology companies, venture capital firms, and non-profit institutions. Additionally, the Fellows take part in a series of leadership development curriculum throughout the program.
Interested in becoming a Pallas Foundation Fellow? More details can be found here.
Meet the Fellows
Salwa Balla
Salwa is a senior at Virginia Tech, pursuing a double major in National Security and Foreign Affairs and International Public Policy and a minor in Arabic. Prior to joining Pallas, Salwa did an internship with the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Program as a Young Global Professional and worked as an Undergraduate Researcher for the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons office. She is passionate about international organizations and diplomacy, and how national security works in tandem with emerging technologies, especially on the global stage.
Gerard Connolly
Gerard spent 6 years in the Army as an Armor Officer. After the Army, he worked at Booz Allen Hamilton, Facebook, and several startups in Product and AI implementation roles. He is currently a part-time enrollee at George Washington University, where he is pursuing a Master's degree in Government Procurement. He is excited to be at Pallas working at the crux of national security and technology. He is passionate about Civil War history and the New York Yankees.
Emily Dimond
Emily is a senior Public Policy major at the University of Maryland, and is in the midst of pursuing her Dual BA/Master's Degree in Public Policy with a focus in International and Economic Security. Previously, she interned with the Civic Innovation Center at the UMD School of Public Policy, and served as a Congressional Intern with the Office of Congressman Joseph Crowley on Capitol Hill. Emily is interested in pursuing a career within the intelligence realm, and is especially interested in navigating the gap between the public and private sectors within national security.
Ariel Fanger
Ariel is a first-year MA candidate at the Fletcher School at Tufts University where she focuses on international security studies and strategic management. Previously, she worked at Dexis Consulting Group where she managed USAID and U.S. Department of State proposals for conflict and stabilization projects. She has also worked in the space and defense industry, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and within the Aspen Strategy Group at the Aspen Institute. She earned a BA in Political Science from Emory University.
Samantha Fish
Samantha is currently pursuing her MA in Security Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, with a focus on U.S. National Security Policy. She is a recent graduate from Princeton University with a degree in International Affairs and Public Policy. She is interested in learning about the intersection between national security and the public and private sectors.
Bailey Wang
Bailey Wang is a first-year M.A. Law and Diplomacy candidate at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, where she focuses on international security and conflict resolution. After earning a B.A. in Global Studies and French, Bailey spent six years working in the federal government, international nonprofits, and private industry in Washington, DC and Boston. Bailey came to Pallas Advisors to put academia into practice. She is looking forward to learning how private industry can support U.S. national security objectives in an informed, strategic manner.
