ICMA is happy to announce the reinstatement of the Tranter-Leong Fellowship and the John Garvey Scholarship opportunities. After a years-long hiatus due to international travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19, these scholarship opportunities officially returned for the spring 2023 application cycle, resulting in two ICMA members being selected: one for the Tranter-Leong Fellowship and one for the John Garvey Scholarship. The fall 2023 application cycle is now open from August 1 to August 31. Learn more about the unmatched value you can gain from international exchange programs and how to submit your application.

The Value of International Knowledge Exchange

International exchange programs may not be the first place a local government professional looks for professional development opportunities. Differences in governance structures, laws, and community needs may lead some local government professionals to think that it is too difficult to work across borders to solve local problems. However, this myth is actively being debunked by those ICMA members who have engaged with their peers in local governments around the world. In addition to the long-lasting connections and friendships they have made, these members have relayed their stories of how these unique experiences equipped them with the tools to identify alternative and innovative approaches to solving their governance and community challenges.

Miriam Porter, professor of urban and regional studies at Minnesota State University at Mankato and 2019 Tranter-Leong Fellow, studied earthquakes and floods in Nepal. While on-site in Nepal, she conducted interviews with local government officials, afflicted individuals, and organizations working in the Nepal’s disaster management sector.

“In this era of climate change, the impact of disasters is particularly brutal on developing countries. My research shed light on best practices to help deal with these impacts.”

Alexander Vazquez, strategy and impact manager, Raleigh, North Carolina and 2017 Garvey Scholarship winner, traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend the ICMA international summit. When asked about his experience, he shared,

“Reflecting on my visit to the Dominican Republic six years later, I know that attending the international summit helped shape my career. Learning about the strategic planning efforts municipalities across the Dominican Republic implemented to create long-lasting, positive change in their communities affirmed the value of developing strategic plans and working across departments (and organizations) to solve community-wide issues. To this day, my professional interest remains focused on strategic planning and performance management.”

ICMA is proud to sponsor opportunities for members have impactful experiences worldwide. All ICMA members who are interested in global knowledge exchange and best practice sharing, are encouraged to apply for the Tranter-Leong Fellowship and John Garvey Scholarship.

More About the Tranter-Leong Fellowship

The Tranter-Leong Fellowship is designed to help ICMA members take part in international professional development experiences. Fellowship funds are available for members interested in conducting research, teaching at an educational institution, working with a current or potential ICMA partner, job shadowing in a host community, or such other activities as providing technical assistance or working on a special project outside of their home country.

More About the John Garvey Scholarship

The John Garvey Scholarship provides an opportunity for ICMA members under 40 years of age to gain an international management perspective through participation in an international conference or event and to increase the number of underrepresented groups participating in exchange programs or other international activities.

Available Opportunities

Applications for the fall 2023 cycle are open August 1-31. The ICMA International Committee administers these awards and plans to announce the selected recipients during the 2023 ICMA Annual Conference. The Tranter-Leong Fellowship is a $5,000 award, and the John Garvey Scholarship provides $3,500 in support. Learn more about these opportunities and apply at Tranter-Leong Fellowship and John Garvey Scholarship.