Freeman Internship Fellowships
Purpose
The Freeman Foundation, established in 1994 in memory of businessman and AIG co-founder Mansfield Freeman, is a private philanthropic organization based in Stowe, Vermont, with offices in New York City. Dedicated to fostering understanding between the U.S. and East Asia, it primarily supports educational initiatives. Through its Undergraduate Asian Studies Funding Initiative, the foundation provides grants to U.S. colleges to expand Asian studies programs, aiming to increase both access to courses and student engagement with Asia.
Since 2012, with generous support from the Freeman Foundation, the University of Oregon’s Center for Asian and Pacific Studies has offered fellowships to support student internships in East and Southeast Asia. These fellowships provide stipends to help cover travel and living expenses, making international experiences more accessible to both undergraduate and graduate students. It remains one of the premier scholarships at UO, specifically designed to support career preparation through international engagement.
Freeman Recipient Testimonials
Johnny Ngo, Global Studies
Completed a Spring 2023 internship with UnAvailable Ltd. in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
"As a Merchandise Intern, my main task was to input data into the daily reports, deliver various paperwork that included Purchase Orders and Stockout Requisitions as well as fabric and materials to the different departments. After some time, I transferred to the Sales Department. When transferring from the Merchandise Department to the Sales Department I was in charge of handling emails from potential clients. For potential clients, I had to send boxes of merchandise we produced and fabric samples to their headquarters in order for them to have a feel of what our company brand and mission are. I learned a lot from being a part of this company, and learned how to appreciate work culture in Vietnam."
Cameron Teubner-Keller, Language Teaching Studies
Completed a Fall 2024 internship at Tokyo International University in Tokyo, Japan
"This internship was an essential step in my development in the field of language teaching. Coming straight out of a graduate program meant that although I had the knowledge of a profession in the field, my experience was minimal. This internship not only gave me the opportunity to use my newly developed skills, but also gave me access to networking and on-the-job training. During my internship, I also applied for a Global Teaching Fellow position at Tokyo International University, and was able to complete an interview with them in-person–an opportunity many who apply do not have the ability to do. By the end of my internship, I was informed that I had been chosen and was offered a position starting in the Spring. I am currently living in Japan and have begun teaching classes."
Lily Varner, Political Science
Completed a Winter 2025 internship at the Asia Center in Bangkok, Thailand
"My internship at Asia Centre was deeply aligned with both my academic background in political science and my passion for human rights. Through my role as a media intern, I engaged with critical issues affecting the region, contributed to branding efforts that amplified the Centre’s advocacy work, and collaborated with partner organizations committed to policy change and social justice. This experience deepened my understanding of the intersection between research, advocacy, and policy and also reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector."
Jasper Blake, Business Administration
Completed a Summer 2025 internship at Bucketplace in Seoul, South Korea
"My internship as a Global Strategy and Operations Assistant was directly related to my Business Administration major. Previously, my experience was heavily focused on content creation, often without much attention to the underlying data. This role gave me the opportunity to explore a new area and step outside of what I already know. It’s often challenging to break away from jobs where your skills already align, but this program gave me the chance to try something new and broaden my career path."
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Freeman Internship Fellowship, candidates must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be enrolled at the UO as a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student
- Be in good academic standing; GPA 2.75
- Have applied to and/or been accepted into an internship in East or Southeast Asia
- Demonstrate financial need
- Have a strong interest in East and/or Southeast Asia.
Award & Requirements
Fellowships of up to $6,500 are available. Award amounts are determined based on the duration of the internship, its location, associated program costs, and the applicant’s financial need. Internships must be at least 8 weeks in length to be considered for a Freeman Fellowship.
Upon their return to UO, all awardees will be expected to share their experiences and insights with other students by submitting an online report and/or participating in other formats—such as presentations, mentoring, or publications—as requested.
For this program, the eligible countries include Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Application Deadlines
To be considered for a Freeman Internship Fellowship, candidates must submit a completed online application by one of the following deadlines:
- February 22 (for Spring and Summer)
- April 22 (for Summer)
- August 22 (for Fall)
- November 22 (for Winter and Spring)