Two Columbians Named Inaugural Lafayette Fellows

congratulations to lafayette fellows Catherine Alexander, CC'25 and Josephine O'Brien, GS'26!

The Lafayette Fellowship was launched in 2026 by the French Embassy of the United States. Inaugurated on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and celebrating the French-American friendship, the Lafayette Fellowship offers funding for a year of master’s level study in France. Columbia is proud to have two alumni in the fellowship's initial cohort of 30 fellows.

Catherine Alexander, CC'25, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Francophone Studies and Political Science. In her time at Columbia, she served as Co-President of the French Cultural Society and worked at the Maison Française. During her senior year, she wrote a French honors thesis examining the evolution of the political and electoral landscape in Guadeloupe.

As a Lafayette Fellow, Catherine will spend the 2026-2027 academic year at the École Nationale des Chartes in Paris, conducting research on the life and political engagement of General Lafayette in partnership with the Fondation de Chambrun-Lafayette. With an interest in legal and political history, she hopes to conduct research on the circulation of political ideas between France and the United States.

Josephine O'Brien, GS'26, earned degrees in Medical Humanities and Political Humanities through the Dual BA Program between Columbia and Sciences Po. Through Columbia's Medical Humanities program, Josephine developed an interest in the ethical, social, and cultural implications of emerging biotechnology. She was awarded departmental honors for her senior thesis, which examined how children's books about egg donation and surrogacy both challenge and reinforce cultural ideas about "natural" families. On campus, Josephine was a Content Assistant for Columbia Health's Go Ask Alice! website, where she wrote articles breaking down health topics into accessible language. With Columbia's support, she also completed an internship with NY State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and spent a summer studying Bulgarian while working on gender policy at a think tank.

As a Lafayette Fellow, Josephine will pursue a Master's in Logic, History, and Philosophy of Science and Technology at ENS Lyon. There, she plans to conduct comparative research on French and American political and bioethical approaches to assisted reproductive technology.

Students and alumni can learn more about the Lafayette Fellowship and other fellowship offerings through the Undergraduate Research & Fellowships Office.