National and International Fellowships and Scholarships
National and International Fellowships and Scholarships (NIFS) are competitive awards that provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in high impact practices including research, teaching, or internships. They can be highly prestigious and life-changing opportunities for students to pursue their goals domestically and abroad.
The NIFS Office consists of an inaugural team of staff, faculty and students tasked with supporting Cal Poly students and recent graduates in applying for these nationally competitive opportunities. NIFS will coordinate with campus partners to provide applicants comprehensive advising and support during the application process.
What We Offer
The NIFS team recruits and prepares students to compete for national and international opportunities. In practice, this often means advising students on application narrative essays/personal statements, helping identify recommenders, and collaborating with students to translate their personal aspirations into actionable achievements.
Comprehensive Application Guidance: Personalized advising to help you identify opportunities that align with your goals.
Application Support: Expert advice on crafting compelling personal statements, resumes, and essays.
Workshops and Resources: Interactive sessions and tools to demystify the fellowship and scholarship process and help you prepare for interviews, personal statements and networking, which are critical components of the application process.
Mentorship: Connections to faculty and alumni mentors who have successfully navigated these opportunities.
To learn more about upcoming national and international scholarships and fellowships login to our NIFS Sharepoint for access our opportunity database.
Contact Us
Office of National & International Fellowships and Scholarships
1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93407
To stay in touch and learn more complete our NIFS Interest Form
The Team
Dr. Susan M. Cheng
Associate Provost for Student Success
Dr. Susan M. Cheng is the Associate Provost for Student Success at Cal Poly. Her role is to provide continuity, connection, and communication for a holistic, diverse, equitable, and inclusive student experience with strong partnerships in Academic Affairs and across divisions at Cal Poly.
Her leadership portfolio includes university advising, the office of writing and learning and launching a new team to support Cal Poly students applying for national and international fellowships and scholarships.
She is a graduate of UCLA with a bachelor’s in mass communications and a public policy graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she earned her doctorate in education leadership. A native of Santa Maria, California, she is excited to return home to the Central Coast after time in Washington, DC.
Dr. Nishi Rajakaruna
Professor, Biological Sciences
Dr. Nishi Rajakaruna is a professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly. He has taught botany for 20 years and received two Fulbright Scholar Awards, to Sri Lanka and South Africa, two Fulbright Regional Travel Program Grants, to India and Madagascar, and a Fulbright Specialist Program Award to South Africa.
He is currently a Fulbright US Scholar Alumni Ambassador helping promote Fulbright opportunities among faculty and other professionals across the United States.
Dr. Rajakaruna is committed to student mentoring and promoting cultural and educational exchange. He takes great pleasure in advising students, faculty and administrators on applying for prestigious awards and scholarships.
NIFS Student Assistants
Mia Makris
Student Assistant
Mia Makris is a second-year communications studies major in the College of Liberal Arts and is a NIFS student assistant who oversees our social media strategy, website and promotional engagement materials.
Kent Rodriguez-Okajimayli
Student Assistant
Kent Rodriguez-Okajima, is a third-year transfer student at Cal Poly SLO, majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. He has worked in high-volume customer service roles throughout his academic journey, where he developed strong leadership and interpersonal skills. He is passionate about using both his academic and professional experience to help people and businesses navigate challenges, and his goal is to empower others to make decisions that lead to their growth and success.
Tyli Stewart
Student Assistant
Tyli Stewart is a second-year Biological Sciences major in the Bailey College of Science & Mathematics. She is also a NIFS student assistant who designs the logo, marketing and outreach campaign materials, and the website.