James Her (MSW ’16) is one of 15 UW students awarded a 2016 Bonderman travel fellowship, worth $20,000. The goal of this sought-after fellowship is to expose students to the intrinsic, often life-changing, benefits of international travel. The grant allows UW students to embark for regions around the world on solo journeys that last for at least eight months.
Says Her, who plans to start his global trek in late August. “I am looking forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone and living in the present 
moment while exploring Costa Rica, Peru, Morocco, Tonga, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and China.” His goal is to immerse himself in non-Western countries so that he can experience firsthand how people live without the latest technologies and other luxuries so often take for granted in the U.S.
Her credits his social work education with becoming a stronger, more resilient person and addressing his own deeply personal issues. “The most surprising thing I learned about myself while at the UW is how badly I needed to address and begin processing the internalized oppression that I have been struggling with for a long time. The social work program gave me the opportunity to reflect a lot on myself and my experiences, and to recognize how I can have a positive impact on society.” Once Her completes his worldwide travels, he hopes to serve marginalized groups and minority communities. [Photo credit: IWRI]
About The Bonderman Travel Fellowships: David Bonderman, who earned his undergraduate degree in Russian in 1963 from the University of Washington, created the fellowship program. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he received a Sheldon Fellowship that allowed him to travel internationally, an experience that had a profound impact on his life. The Bonderman Travel Fellowships support UW students in having a similarly transformative experience. The UW Graduate School and the University Honors Program administer the program.