Pablo Tutillo ’13 earns prestigious Rangel Graduate Fellowship

Most recently, Pablo Tutillo '13 taught English and Spanish to young children in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was studying Turkish on a scholarship provided by the Turkish government.
Most recently, Pablo Tutillo '13 taught English and Spanish to young children in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was studying Turkish on a scholarship provided by the Turkish government.

Ecuador to New London, Egypt to Brazil, Jerusalem to Turkey — Pablo Tutillo ’13 has logged a lot of travel miles during the last decade or so. Now back in the United States, he’s ready to make his next move.

Tutillo was recently named one of just 30 recipients of the prestigious Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship, awarded to college graduates interested in careers in international affairs.

The fellowship provides up to $95,000 over two years toward a two-year master’s degree, arranges internships on Capitol Hill or in U.S. embassies, and supports activities for those pursuing a career as a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department.

With dreams of becoming a diplomat, Tutillo is preparing to begin his fellowship in the office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut. Following the internship, he will pursue a master’s degree in international public policy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif.

“I want to understand the world better,” Tutillo said. “I want to address critical global issues regarding educational inequality, governance and investment in a global society. The Rangel Fellowship will provide me the necessary mentorship to excel in the Foreign Service, where I can collaborate with governments in order to address these goals.

Born in Ecuador, Tutillo moved to New London at age 11 to live with Puerto Rican family members and attended The Williams School before going to the College. He majored in international relations and minored in Arabic studies at the College, volunteering regularly with the Office of Volunteers for Community Service (OVCS) to give back to the New London community. He also tutored students in New London schools and, in 2011, organized an International Children’s Expo on the College campus for more than 80 local fifth-graders.

That same year, Tutillo’s scope of service extended globally. He was awarded a $100,000 fellowship from the Institute for International Public Policy, which provides opportunities for outstanding minority students to pursue careers in international affairs. Since then, Tutillo has studied Arabic and conducted research on international politics of the Middle East in Alexandria, Egypt; worked as a social entrepreneurship intern in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; researched Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem (he speaks both Arabic and Hebrew conversationally); and, most recently, studied Turkish while teaching English and Spanish in Istanbul, thanks to a scholarship provided by the Turkish government.

“I have grown up, worked, lived and studied in different corners of the world,” Tutillo said. “I feel I have a calling to protect my surroundings, and to address the transnational issues between government and people.”

Aside from his travel experiences, Tutillo credits Connecticut College faculty and staff with solidifying his career interests. He particularly acknowledges Caroleen Sayej, assistant professor of government and international relations, for building his academic foundation on the Middle East and comparative politics; Andrea Lanoux, associate professor of Slavic studies, for her mutual interest in international education; and Tracee Reiser, director of OVCS, for honing his passion for community service.

“My mentors at Conn were a key part of my development as a thinker and a doer,” Tutillo said. “Because of their guidance, I’m now inspired to pass on that mission of mentorship and learning.”



June 19, 2015