Apply Today for the ARIN 58 Fellowship Program

By Amanda Gauldin – Senior Project Manager

The call for applications to the ARIN 58 Fellowship Program is out! We are excited to once again welcome selected Fellows to our Public Policy and Members Meeting, this time taking place in Miami, Florida, in late October.

For more than 16 years, the ARIN Fellowship Program has played a vital role in our community by broadening engagement and helping newcomers better understand the work we do at ARIN. For ARIN 58, Fellows will follow a customized learning program led by community experts and ARIN staff, designed to enhance their understanding of the complexities of ARIN and their role in Internet number resource policies.

In addition to attending the ARIN 58 meeting, held 22-23 October, Fellows will participate in virtual sessions leading up to it that will provide the opportunity for focused discussion, structured mentorship, and educational content. Fellows will also have the option of taking part in the 98th gathering of the North American Network Operators’ Group (NANOG 98), held in Miami and online in the days preceding ARIN 58.

Who should apply?

Are you part of the Internet community and want to:

• Gain a better 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, we encourage you to apply to the ARIN Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Selection Committee will select Fellows to participate in the program with either virtual or in-person attendance at the ARIN 58 meeting. We look forward to hearing from you, so be sure to get your application in by 19 July.

What does the program include?

With the personal support of ARIN community member Mentors, Fellows participate in an engaging and informative agenda of presentations, discussions, and Q&As with ARIN leadership — including ARIN staff and Advisory Council members. Virtual sessions feature:

• An introduction to ARIN’s services,
• An overview of Internet number resource policy and the ARIN PDP, and
• A review of key issues and policies on the docket for ARIN 58.

Fellows will have the opportunity to 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 pre-meeting virtual sessions, Fellows will participate in the ARIN 58 Public Policy and Members Meeting, held 22-23 October in Miami, Florida, and online.

What is the time commitment?

Fellows will participate in virtual sessions before ARIN 57 and attend the meeting either virtually or in person in Louisville. Each virtual session runs up to 90 minutes. Additionally, pre-session recordings providing an introduction to ARIN and Internet number resource policy will be made available before the first virtual session.

• Session 1 | Tuesday, 15 September, 2 PM ET (Virtual)
  Welcome and program overview
• Session 2 | Tuesday, 22 September, 2 PM ET (Virtual)
  Introduction to the Policy Development Process
• Session 3 | Tuesday, 29 September, 2 PM ET (Virtual)
  Policies on the docket for ARIN 58 and global Internet policy overview
• Session 4 | Tuesday, 6 October, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
  Policy and technical workshops
• ARIN 58 Meeting Orientation | Tuesday, 13 October, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)
• NANOG 98 | 19-21 October Attendance optional virtually or in person in Miami, Florida
• ARIN 58 Public Policy and Members Meeting | 22-23 October
  Attendance required virtually or in person in Miami, Florida.
• Post-Meeting Review | Tuesday, 27 October, 2:00 PM ET (Virtual)

Session agendas and slides will be shared in advance, and, although no homework is assigned, Fellows should expect to spend a few hours outside the sessions reviewing materials to get the most out of the program.

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 Policy Development Process, get to know other Fellows, ARIN staff, and ARIN leadership, and grow your confidence to participate in the ARIN 58 policy discussions and beyond.

“What sets this program apart is how intentional the journey is,” Senior Director of Customer Experience and Strategy Joe Westover says. “By the time Fellows arrive on site or join us online for the meeting, they’ve already spent weeks in focused virtual sessions, building real relationships with their peers and Mentors and getting comfortable with the material. They’re not observers by the time the meeting starts; they’re participants.”

And that confidence doesn’t fade when the meeting ends. Year after year, we see Fellows stay engaged long after their program wraps up — mentoring future cohorts, joining the Advisory Council or Board of Trustees, and shaping the policies that govern how the Internet number registry operates. That’s the real return on this program: a stronger, more diverse community in perpetuity.

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

What do past Fellows have to say?

“This program works. It took me from Googling acronyms to understanding how Internet governance operates at the ground level, and it showed me a concrete path for contributing. That’s a hard thing to do in six weeks.” — Zulqar Nayen, ARIN 57 Fellow

“One of the most impactful aspects of the program for me was the series of virtual meetings leading up to the ARIN 57 meeting. These sessions felt more intimate and engaging, which made it easier to ask questions, follow discussions, and connect with others. As a newcomer, this environment helped build my confidence and allowed me to better understand the material before entering the larger, more formal sessions.” — Nnandi Robinson, ARIN 57 Fellow

“The ARIN Fellowship was nothing like I expected, and I mean that in the best way. When I applied, I imagined something more hands-on or technical, but what I got was something much deeper and more meaningful. I found myself immersed in the entire policy development process and began to understand how that process is what makes ARIN successful. It was a front-row seat to seeing how ideas are shaped, challenged, refined, and eventually turned into real policy.” — Max Doumit, ARIN 56 Fellow

”Professionally, this experience has sharpened my understanding of IP resource stewardship and the broader ecosystem of Internet coordination. I now have a deeper appreciation for the role of IP exchanges and the governance mechanisms that sustain our technical foundations. Personally, I feel more empowered and informed — and better prepared to engage in these spaces moving forward.” – Kevin Schoenfeld, ARIN 55 Fellow

Ready to apply?

To apply to the ARIN 58 Fellowship Program, just answer a few short questions during the application period open through 19 July. Selected Fellows will be notified of their acceptance into the in-person or virtual program on 18 August. For more information on the program please visit our Fellowships page.

Access the application and submit yours by 19 July.

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
Senior Project Manager

Recent blogs categorized under: Fellowship Program

• Bridging Policy and Operations: An ARIN 57 Fellowship Experience
• The Community That Changed How I See the Internet
• Introducing the ARIN 57 Fellows
• A Launchpad for Engagement: An ARIN Fellowship Program Experience