N.C. A&T Alumnus Jeter Selected for Prestigious Payne Graduate Fellowship

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumnus Cabral Jeter ‘23 has been selected for the Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program. 

Jeter, of East Point, Georgia and the son of Melvin Jeter and Marian Butler-Jeter, is the second Aggie and first male Aggie selected for this program. Lea Claye ’13 was selected in 2015. 

“As an African American, I recognize the underrepresentation of individuals from my community in foreign service roles,” said Jeter. “I aspire to be a catalyst for change, following in the footsteps of Congressman Donald M. Payne Sr., and helping pave the way for increased diversity and inclusion in foreign service spaces.” 

The highly competitive and distinguished fellowship, named for the first Black congressman for New Jersey, was launched in 2012 and seeks outstanding individuals who are dedicated to and pursuing careers in international development and foreign service. It provides up to $104,000 toward a two-year master’s degree at a U.S. institution, along with funded domestic and international internships and professional development. This support is designed to position Payne Graduate Fellows for a job as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Foreign Service. 

Jeter was one of 30 applicants selected from an 880-person pool and is enrolled in the Master of Arts, International Relations program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), one of the top programs of its type nationally. At USAID, he aspires to work as a Program Officer to advocate for global marginalized communities. 

For Jeter’s first program summer internship, he interned in the office of Rep. Jonathan Jackson ‘87 of Illinois. He used his research expertise to develop a policy brief for educational attainment in low-income communities in Chicago and was able to accompany Jackson to events focused on strengthening U.S.-Africa relations. 

Jeter graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in political science from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in May 2023 and was awarded Outstanding Senior Award ’23 by the Department of History and Political Science. He was a member of the Honors College, Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta First Year Honor Society. He served as a student ambassador for the Office of Intercultural Engagement and Mister Georgia Aggies ’19. He also was a historically Black college and university intern with the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. 

Jeter visited campus twice this fall to help spread the word about foreign service careers — once during an Honors College homecoming networking event with current students, and as a co-host of the Extraordinary Global Experiences (EGE) series keynote lecture and fireside chat in November. 

“Cabral’s academic and professional journey is inspiring, including his participation in the first EGE series as a student and his recent outreach as an EGE guest presenter,” said Alsace-Lorraine Gallop, A&T’s National Scholarships and Fellowships Coordinator and Fulbright Program Adviser in NCAT Extraordinary Opportunities (NCAT EO). “He is a stellar example of the best of America, and I look forward to the outcomes of his continued insightful leadership.” 

Jeter demonstrated a commitment to international development and service through his studies abroad at Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica through the American Institute for Foreign Study. In addition to his studies, he led a campaign against harassment and sexual assault at Universidad Veritas. He has also been a proponent for international relations through his work on Haitian and Dominican relations, which he presented to the N.C. Political Science Association. 

Jeter served on six tours with See and Serve America Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a culture of volunteerism and community engagement. His tours involved service projects including planting community gardens and neighborhood restorations. He is also a proud Eagle Scout ’18 of the Atlanta Area Council. 

Students, alumni, faculty and staff interested in learning about the Payne Graduate Fellowship should email Gallop at acgallop@ncat.edu to learn more about the application process for this program and more than 70 others externally funded and nationally competitive prestigious domestic and global programs.