When news came that he had clinched a fellowship with the Carnegie foundation, Robert Johnson was understandably excited.
But then he wanted to turn it down.
“It caused a headache because I already had everything worked out,” said Johnson, a Weinberg senior. After graduation, Johnson had planned to start working as an investment banker.
But the Bank of America decided to allow Johnson to defer his job for a year, and Johnson knew he was headed for Washington, D.C. this July.
One of 10 students nationally selected as a junior fellow by the the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Johnson will spend one year doing research on policy-oriented issues in Washington.
Johnson will research two projects: democratic reform in Asia and the global impact of the U.S. government’s role in managing the macroeconomy.
Selected from more than 400 nominees from about 200 schools across the nation, Johnson will receive a $25,000 stipend from the Carnegie Endowment while in Washington. But Johnson said the money is “inconsequential.”
“I’m just happy if I don’t incur debts while I’m there,” he said.
An economics major, Johnson discovered his passion for the subject while studying abroad at the London School of Economics last year.
“I fell in love with economics at the LSE,” he said. “It gave me a clear focus on contemporary problems in the real world.”
Johnson’s eyes shone as he remembered his experiences at the LSE. He recalled “frantically writing” an essay for a final exam for three hours and taking a 20-minute walk to Parliament afterward. There he watched British Prime Minister Tony Blair discuss the same economic issue that appeared on the test.
His face also brightened as he spoke about one of his LSE professors who argued the case involving Pinochet, a former Chilean dictator accused of war crimes, in front of the Hague.
“Those sorts of experiences really energized me,” Johnson said. “I knew I was in the right place. It was incredibly fascinating.”
At NU, Johnson’s friends described him as “well-rounded” and “hardworking.”
“Rob’s a great guy,” said Katie Brown, a Weinberg sophomore who led an Alternative Spring Break trip to Virginia with him. “He’s dedicated to what he’s doing and genuinely interested in who he’s talking to.”
A member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, Johnson also plays saxophone for the jazz lab band and plays club baseball. Fluent in Italian and able to converse in Spanish, Johnson also has a heart for community service.
“He’s the nicest guy in the world,” said Melody Ing, a Weinberg sophomore. “He’s willing to sacrifice his own time to help.”
Johnson said he hopes to project his “predilection toward public service” into an international affairs career that allows him to serve others. And after he finishes his research — and his career — Johnson just wants to continue his “love affair” with all things Italian.
“My dream is to live in a villa in Tuscany with a vineyard and wander the Italian countryside,” he said.
But for now, the self-described cynic and idealist has his thoughts on Washington.
“I don’t do it for the recognition,” Johnson said, referring to his fellowship. “I just want to satisfy the demons within.”
