Apply Today for the ARIN 53 Fellowship Program

By Amanda Gauldin – Project Manager

The call for applications to the ARIN 53 Fellowship Program is out! We are excited to once again bring selected Fellows to our Public Policy and Members Meeting, this time taking place in Bridgetown, Barbados, in April.

For more than 15 years, the ARIN Fellowship Program has been a vital part of our Public Policy and Members Meetings, broadening our engagement and helping newcomers to the community gain a better understanding of the work we do at ARIN. For ARIN 53, Fellows will continue to follow a customized program of presentations from community experts and ARIN staff, enhancing their understanding of the complexities of ARIN and Internet number resource policies. Virtual sessions leading up to the meeting will provide additional time for focused discussion, structured mentorship, and educational content.

Who should apply?

Are you part of the Internet community and want to:

Gain understanding of Internet number resource policy and ARIN’s Policy Development Process (PDP)?
Bring your voice to Internet governance by participating in ARIN meetings and policy discussions?
Network with ARIN’s Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, staff and community members from throughout the region?
Learn more about ARIN’s operations and services?
Develop professionally and enhance your career in the Internet industry?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, and you’re at least 18 years old and residing in the ARIN region, consider applying to the ARIN Fellowship Program. At the Fellowship Selection Committee’s discretion, up to 15 Fellows will be selected to participate in the program with either virtual or in-person attendance of the ARIN 53 meeting. We look forward to hearing from you, so be sure to get your application in by 22 January.

What does the program entail?

With the personal support of ARIN community member Mentors, Fellows progress through an engaging and approachable agenda of presentations, discussions, and Q&As with ARIN leadership — including ARIN staff and Advisory Council members. The sessions provide an overview of Internet number resource policy and the ARIN Policy Development Process (PDP), information about ARIN services and operations, and an introduction to ARIN Internet number resources.

Fellows can ask questions, get feedback, and gain the knowledge and confidence to join in community discussions, propose new ideas, and become part of the future of Internet governance and policy in the ARIN region. Following four virtual sessions, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in the ARIN 53 Public Policy and Members Meeting, held 14-17 April 2024 in Bridgetown, Barbados, as well as CaribNOG 27.

What is the time commitment?

Fellows will participate in virtual sessions before ARIN 53 and attend the meeting either virtually or in person in Barbados. Each virtual session runs up to 90 minutes. Additionally, two pre-session recordings providing an introduction to ARIN and Internet number resource policy will be made available 12 March.

Session 1 | Tuesday, 19 March, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
Welcome and program overview
Session 2 | Tuesday, 26 March, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
Introduction to the Policy Development Process and policies on the docket for ARIN 53
Session 3 | Tuesday, 2 April, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
Additional policy discussion and a summary of ARIN services
ARIN 53 Meeting Orientation | Tuesday, 9 April, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
ARIN 53 Public Policy and Members Meeting | 14-17 April
Attendance required virtually or in person in Bridgetown, Barbados
CaribNOG 27 | 17-18 April
Attendance optional in person in Bridgetown, Barbados
Post-ARIN 53 Review | Tuesday, 23 April, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)

Fellows will receive session agendas in advance with links to review in preparation, and slide decks will be available during each session for further reference. Although no homework is assigned during the Fellowship, Fellows should expect to spend a few hours outside the sessions reading materials to be well-prepared for group discussions.

What can you expect from this program?

Each Fellow will be paired with a Mentor for small group discussions and additional Q&A time. Along the way you will learn about the ARIN PDP, get to know other Fellows, ARIN staff, and ARIN leadership, and grow your confidence to participate in the ARIN 53 policy discussions and beyond.

“Since 2009 the Fellowship program has played a critical role in ARIN Public Policy and Member Meetings and our community,” said Joe Westover, ARIN’s Director of Customer Experience and Strategy. “In 2024, we are excited to continue offering this opportunity for participation in our meetings, along with the other industry meetings presented in conjunction by CaribNOG and NANOG. We’ve taken all the improvements and expansions to the curriculum we developed for the program during the pandemic and integrated them into a hybrid format with both the greater structure, more in-depth dialogue, and additional mentorship time of virtual sessions along with the chance to participate in and experience the community at an ARIN meeting.”

But don’t just take it from us; recent Fellows have had enthusiastic feedback about the program.

What do past Fellows have to say?

“The fellowship has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of ARIN’s mission and its services, as well as those of service providers and the community. It has filled many of my knowledge gaps and enabled me to articulate a better story of ARIN’s vital role in sustaining Internet number resources.” – Gordon Swaby, ARIN 51 Fellow

“It was a transformative experience and I learned so much from this process and met a wonderful community of folks who are inclusive and want to see more young people getting into Internet governance and policy.” – Dana Cramer, ARIN 52 Fellow

“The Fellowship program has exceeded expectations for closing gaps in my understanding of ARIN’s policy process and providing critical information on accessing ARIN services and resources. I’ve attended multiple ARIN meetings in person and remotely, but still had gaps in fully understanding the policy process. The pre-sessions were very informative and offered the opportunity to interact with fellow peers as well as ARIN leaders.” – E. Marie Brierley, ARIN 52 Fellow

“Attending your first meeting can be a bit overwhelming, but the ARIN community and Fellowship Mentors did a great job of walking us through the ARIN policy development process, how it works, and how to prepare [for the meeting]. I think the Fellowship Program is fantastic and would be beneficial to anyone in the Internet industry.” – Rebecca Kaiser, ARIN 52 Fellow

How can you apply?

To apply to the ARIN 53 Fellowship Program, just answer a few short questions during the application period open through 22 January. Selected Fellows will be notified of acceptance into the program on 12 February. For more information on the program please visit our Fellowships page.

Click here to access the application and submit yours by 22 January.

Have questions? Email fellowships@arin.net.

We look forward to welcoming an amazing group of Fellows to the next ARIN Public Policy and Members Meeting!

If you know someone who would make a great ARIN Fellow, please encourage them to apply. You may also download and share our informational flyer.

Post written by:

Amanda Gauldin
Project Manager

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