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71st Annual Report (Accessible)

71st Annual Report (Accessible)

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

Year ending 30 September 2024

Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs pursuant to section 2(6) of Marshall Aid Commemoration Act 1953

September 2025

Contents

Welcome from Mr John Raine, MACC Chair

The 2023-2024 academic year was a dynamic and forward-looking period for the Marshall Scholarship Programme, marked by institutional change, deeper bilateral alignment, and continued academic excellence among our Scholars.

In September 2023, we welcomed 41 new Marshall Scholars from across the United States. As ever, the incoming class reflected exceptional academic promise, wide-ranging interests, and a deep commitment to public service. Orientation took place in London with a full in-person programme designed to help Scholars quickly adapt to their new environment and to engage immediately with the United Kingdom’s rich cultural and intellectual life.

Scholars pursued graduate study across a broad spectrum of disciplines from STEM and the social sciences to the humanities and creative arts at universities across the UK. In addition to their academic work, they benefited from a wide variety of co-curricular activities supported by the MACC and the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS), all of which contributed to a deeper understanding of the UK’s institutions, society, and role on the global stage.

In May, we said farewell to our graduating Scholars with a celebratory dinner at Ironmonger’s Hall in London, where we heard their inspiring stories and reflections on their Marshall journey. The event was followed by the annual joint farewell reception for all Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Scholarship recipients, held at the Alexandra Palace in London, part of our ongoing effort to strengthen cross-scheme ties with the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship programmes, and provide Marshall Scholars with opportunities to broaden their global networks.

A highlight of the year was the continued implementation of the UK-US Atlantic Declaration, which reaffirms the special relationship between our two nations and has had a direct impact on the Marshall Programme. In particular, we welcomed its commitment to increasing the Grant-in-Aid funding provided by the FCDO, enabling MACC to expand the number of Marshall Scholarships awarded for the 2024-25 academic year and enhance the support provided to Scholars throughout their time in the UK.

The 71st Class of Marshall Scholars was formally announced in December 2023 following the Ambassador’s Advisory Council (AAC) meeting in Washington DC. The AAC discussions were a valuable opportunity to reflect on the Marshall selection process, review programme priorities, and thank the remarkable network of volunteer interviewers whose dedication continues to make the Programme possible.

Within MACC, the year brought significant structural developments. The Commission completed the transfer of its Secretariat and administrative support to the British Council, following a competitive tender process. This new contract involves closer administrative collaboration with the Chevening Scholarship programme and reflects MACC’s commitment to operational innovation and efficiency. We are grateful to the British Council for their commitment to delivering a high-quality service to Marshall Scholars and stakeholders.

In January 2024, we were pleased to appoint the Programme’s first Chief Executive Officer, Dr Emily Charnock. Dr Charnock joined us with a deep understanding of the transatlantic relationship, higher education, and UK Government policy. Her leadership will play a key role as the Commission seeks to further modernise and future-proof the Programme, whilst maintaining the Marshall Scholarships’ founding values of academic excellence and international understanding.

We also advanced key areas of governance, including reviewing our safeguarding policies, progressing digital improvements, and strengthening our partnerships across HMG-funded scholarship schemes.

The Programme remains in good financial health. This year, 44 of the 75 Scholars overall in the UK were co-funded by Marshall Partner institutions. We are grateful for the continued support of these partners, as well as generous contributions from alumni via the AMS, the Marshall Sherfield Scholarship Fund, and the Annenberg Foundation.

As we look towards the 70th anniversary of the Marshall Scholarship programme, celebrating the arrival of the first class of Marshall Scholars in Autumn 1954, we draw renewed inspiration and strength from the Programme’s rich legacy. On behalf of the MACC, I extend my sincere thanks to all who contribute to its continued success: our Scholars, Commissioners, alumni, partners, volunteers, and staff.

John Raine CMG OBE
Chair, Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission 2024

The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1953 in order to express gratitude to the American people for the post-war support and assistance conceived by Secretary of State George C Marshall, subsequently known as the Marshall Plan. The Parliamentary Act created postgraduate Scholarships in the United Kingdom for American students with the potential to excel in their chosen fields of study and future careers.

As alumni of UK Universities and as members of the community during their stay in the UK, Marshall Scholars create lasting bridges between the United States and the United Kingdom and become advocates for greater depth and breadth of interaction, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries. Scholars also participate in activities which make them effective spokespeople for the best in British society and education and, once they have completed their studies, continue to support the furtherance of international cooperation in the spirit of the Marshall Plan.

Each year up to 50 Marshall Scholarships are awarded, many in partnership with outstanding UK Universities, thus providing continuing recognition for the generosity of the past whilst supporting the promise of the future. This unique testament plays a valuable role in developing a constituency for the UK in the United States of America.

The programme is largely funded by HM Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside partnerships with UK Universities and others and is administered in Britain by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, with the support of the British Embassy in Washington DC, and the Consulates-General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. His Majesty The King is Honorary Patron of the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS).

Commission Membership and Meetings

In 2023/24 regular business meetings of the Commission were held on 12 October, 26 January, 31 March, and 28 June. The Commission’s Scholar Experience Committee (SEC), Education, and Audit and Risk Management (ARM) Committees also met on several occasions. The Ambassador’s Advisory Council met on 11 December 2023.

As of September 2024, Commission members are as follows:

  • Mr John Raine CMG OBE (Chair)
  • Mr Adrian Greer
  • Professor Adam Smith
  • Professor Leslie Vinjamuri
  • Professor Chris Millward
  • Dr Andrew Bell
  • Professor Sarah Wolffe
  • Ms Anulika Ajufo
  • Professor Richard Black
  • Professor Frances Brodsky

Commissioners are publicly appointed and are unpaid. The Alumni Observers on the Commission are:

  • Professor Jonathan Erichsen
  • Dr Benjamin Heineike

Scholars in the UK 2023/24

In the academic year 2023-24, 74 Marshall Scholars were studying in the UK:

  • 33 fully funded by the Commission
  • 3 fully funded by external partners or alumni
  • 38 supported to varying degrees under partnership arrangements with UK academic institutions

This support is vital to the scale and sustainability of the Marshall Scholarship Programme.

Distribution by Institution

Three Scholars:

  • University of Edinburgh
  • King’s College London (KCL)
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Two Scholars:

  • Cardiff University
  • King’s College, Cambridge*
  • Imperial College London
  • SOAS, University of London
  • University College London (UCL)
  • New College, Oxford
  • University of St Andrews

One Scholar:

  • University of Bristol
  • University of Birmingham
  • Clare College, Cambridge*
  • Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
  • St John’s College, Cambridge
  • Trinity College, Cambridge
  • University College London*
  • Balliol College, Oxford
  • Brasenose College, Oxford**
  • Exeter College, Oxford
  • Magdalen College, Oxford
  • St Peter’s College, Oxford
  • Somerville College, Oxford
  • Trinity College, Oxford
  • University College, Oxford
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Southampton
  • University of York

* Fully funded by external partners (Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS), the British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF), and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust).

** This award is the Brasenose-Blavatnik-Marshall Scholarship with three-way fees funding (Brasenose, Blavatnik and Marshall)

Academic Disciplines Studied

  • 26 Scholars pursued courses in Science and Engineering, including Mathematics
  • 48 Scholars pursued courses in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Creative/Performing Arts

This breadth of subjects chosen by the Scholars enriches the programme and meets the Commission’s objective to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in science, technology, the humanities and social sciences and the creative arts at Britain’s centres of academic excellence.

As future leaders, Scholars are studying programmes in Migration Studies, International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, Applied Digital Health, Global Environment, Politics, and Society and Bioscience Enterprise as well as undertaking cutting-edge research in subjects including Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering.

Scholars Graduating 2024

34 Scholars completed tenure of their awards in 2024. These Scholars, who are registered for Doctorates or research/taught Master’s programmes, will complete the requirements for their degrees in the coming months.

The examination results of 25 Scholars in total were received during the year:

  • One result from the 2018 class
  • One result from the 2020 class
  • 20 results from the 2021 class
  • Three results from one-year 2022 Scholars

One of these obtained a Doctorate, the rest obtained Master’s degrees. The names of all Scholars on whom degrees were conferred during 2023/2024 or for whom the Commission received results are listed in Appendix 1.

Three Scholars were granted an extension for a third year of their tenure in 2024/2025: one funded by the Oxford Marshall DPhil Scholarship (Oxford Trust).

Scholars’ Experiences

Jackson Foster

I graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA (Hons) in history and religion, and with minors in computational research and the liberal arts. During my Marshall Scholarship, I pursued master’s degrees in medieval and early modern studies at St Chad’s College, Durham and criminology and criminal justice at Exeter College, Oxford. I completed both courses with distinction marks.

My scholarship consists primarily of two themes: how social, economic, and political conditions shape the definitions and expressions of crime, and how the state regulates and actualises death. My time in Durham culminated in numerous papers and a dissertation on interpersonal conflict and violence, capital punishment, and the evolution of law and governance throughout the Tudor period. Embracing my palaeographic obsession, I helped transcribe, translate, and catalogue Durham Cathedral’s oldest deeds; I also organised an eight-week course on medieval and early modern leisure for members of the local community.

Whilst at the Oxford Centre for Criminology, I interned with the Death Penalty Research Unit. In this challenging and inspiring role, I examined the obstacles to full and formal capital punishment abolition in Belize. My work will be used by the Death Penalty Project to develop strategies for abolitionist advocacy and litigation in Belize and the Commonwealth Caribbean more broadly. Critically, these academic experiences have prepared me to support senior scholars and their research as a Program Specialist for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

I chose the UK because I found romantic the prospect of practising history in a place where it remains so deeply ingrained. My daily walks were characterised by elegant medieval architecture; I often woke up from afternoon naps to the ringing of the centuries-old bells. Such a sense of romance therefore never waned, nor did my keen appreciation of the UK’s customs, culture, and people. To that latter end, my colleges (welcoming, kind, truly homely) and sports (namely, football, cricket, and rowing) contributed greatly. Perhaps my proudest extracurricular effort was making Exeter’s first boat for Summer Eights, in which I chopped my way up the Isis to the amusement of over one-thousand spectators. In all, my Marshall tenure has proven one of my life’s chief joys and adventures. I am infinitely grateful.

Isabelle Galko

Isabelle is originally from Austin, Texas and graduated from Southern Methodist University, where she studied environmental sciences, public policy, and human rights. Her research interests include coastal ecology, climate change, and environmental justice. In the UK, she spent her first year as a Marshall Scholar at King’s College London, where she earned an MSc in Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy. In this programme, she researched environmental change on barrier islands, and conducted fieldwork in rural Virginia to learn from local perspectives on climate change and small-scale fisheries.

She spent her second year at University College London studying aquatic ecology and conservation. Her second dissertation focused on seabird ecology and included many hours observing terns in North Norfolk. On these two programmes in the UK, she learned from British perspectives on climate change and biodiversity conservation. She has particularly enjoyed her time travelling around the UK, highlights including surveying Atlantic salmon in Scottish rivers, fossil-hunting in Dorset, and taking sediment cores on Loch Ness. Next, she will be working at Oregon State University to support NOAA’s Gulf Of Alaska Climate Integrated Modelling Project by assessing the vulnerability of key groundfish stocks to climate change in Alaska.

Nicolas Graber-Mitchell

Nicolas ‘Cole’ Graber-Mitchell grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended Amherst College. After graduating with a BA in Mathematics and Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought, he did two master’s programmes whilst a Marshall Scholar. He studied Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and he studied Law at SOAS, University of London. His first dissertation explored how climate science’s affects and representations of Indigenous Arctic people; his second investigated the use of religious family law in England. His publications include a book on lethal injection, an article on elections in catastrophe, and an article on technology, speech, and privacy.

Outside his academic career, Cole is an activist for progressive causes. Cole chose to study in the United Kingdom because of the shared legal, political, and social trajectory of the US and the UK: today, they both grapple with many of the problems on which he wants to work. In the UK, he fell in love not only with his home, London, but also the rest of Britain, which he explored from Looe to Skye. He also became a fiend for a good pie or pasty.

Grace Kim

For most of my life, I have grown up in Montgomery County, Maryland. I’m one of three daughters of two doting South Korean immigrant parents—it is through their love and support I’ve reached this far in my academic career. I am also a proud First Generation – Low Income (FGLI) student, and the first to receive a graduate degree within my family. Graduating from Harvard University, I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Sciences in the Aerospace and Robotics Track.

I grew interest in satellites after joining the Harvard Satellite Team in undergrad, where we tried to build our own cube satellite from scratch. Although these cube satellites are tiny in comparison to the larger satellites found from satellite constellations like Starlink, operated by SpaceX, this experience was able to inspire me to continue learning about satellites and their immense importance in our current global economy and ongoing technological advancements.

After spending those four years in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, I had the privilege of taking on the Marshall Scholarship and moving for a year to Cambridge, UK to study at the University of Cambridge. I completed my Master’s degree in Advanced Computer Science, and conducted research with the Cambridge Machine Learning Systems Lab (CaMLSys) for my dissertation on Federated Learning for Satellite Constellations.

With my background in aerospace engineering, I was excited to bring in my expertise on satellite constellations and find ways to train Machine Learning (ML) models directly on-board satellites. By utilising federated learning onto satellite constellations, we can train models on the local data available on each satellite, allowing each satellite to learn locally from its unique observations and environmental conditions. Through federated learning, my research worked on transforming satellite constellations into more intelligent, and autonomous self-learning networks. I specifically focused on how to harness the specific environmental constraints found within a satellite constellation, and reframe this in a way that could be best employed through Federated Learning.

Presenting my research at the Oxford Cambridge Women in Computer Science 2024 conference, I was awarded the first place poster prize in the Masters student division. I also was awarded a highly commended award from our department for the entire dissertation submission.

Outside of my graduate schooling in the university, I also became a member of Gonville and Caius College, and joined the postgraduate community in our Middle Common Room (MCR). At Caius, I became an active member of our college rowing boat club, waking up at 5am to meet the rising sun during the cold and wet Cambridge winters. In May 2024, we finished our annual May bumps race: a 4-day event where over twenty Cambridge residential colleges line up their boats along the Cam river. All of these boats are racing simultaneously, following one after another, attempting to “bump” the boats in front of them to move up in the rankings. Each of the racing days are filled with excitement, with the adrenaline rushes making us forget about the blisters on our hands, or the burning feelings of our calves as each crew of boats row at full speed for over three kilometres. Rowing has been one of the highlights of my experiences at Cambridge. I’m so thankful that my British housemate convinced me to try the sport, as I’ve built so many lasting friendships with the girls who rowed with me on my crew.

I also have many other fond memories as well during my time in the UK, taking long train ride weekend trips with the other Marshalls in our class. From visiting the beaches in Brighton, the hikes in Keswick, ceilidh dances in Edinburgh, little pub dinners in Ely, the musicals in London, and the Rhodes Marshall football games in Oxford, there are an endless number of lovely memories I’ve had the joy of making.

Continuing past the Marshall programme in the autumn of 2024, I started my PhD at Stanford University in the Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro) department. Expanding on my current research topics of federated learning for satellite constellations, I now will explore important topics such as spacecraft orbital awareness, safety, and collision avoidance. It will be one of my utmost priorities to continue international collaborations for research through my current contacts at Cambridge at the MLSys lab. Having completed this journey, I am able to start the next chapter of my academic chapter having grown immensely both as a researcher and as an individual with hopes to better the communities that I’ve become a part of.

Departing Scholars’ Questionnaire

At the end of each year Scholars complete a questionnaire giving an overview of their experience of their Scholarship during the academic year. The survey was sent to all scholars on award as of 13 August 2024 and ran for a period of one month, closing 13 September 2024. In total 46 of a possible 75 scholars completed the survey.

Scholars’ Rating of Overall Experience in the UK

Overall, Scholars reported having a positive experience of studying and living in the UK:

  • 41% of respondents described their experience as ‘Excellent’
  • 28% of respondents described it as ‘Good’
  • 11% reflected upon their UK experience as average or poor
  • 20% did not provide a response

Therefore, the majority of scholars (69%) reported having a positive experience living and studying in the UK.

Marshall Events

Academic Year 2023-2024

2023 Class Orientation

The 2023 Class orientation was held in Washington DC, USA and London, UK from 17–22 September 2023.

Marshall Connect

Marshall Connect is a collaboration between the Civil Service Fast Stream and the Marshall Programme. It involves Civil Servants on the Fast Stream scheme and Marshall Scholars forming a ‘buddy’ style of relationship during the Scholars’ first year of study in the UK.

The purpose of the Marshall Connect programme is to:

  • Build a network of future leaders in the UK/US which can be sustained
  • Make connections—a chance to share cultural understanding, comparing and developing leadership styles and exchange of ideas
  • Increase understanding of how UK and US Governments go about their business

These activities are intended to support the overall Commission’s aim of strengthening the enduring relationship between British and American peoples.

Annual Marshall Departing Scholars’ Dinner – 13 May 2024

The Commission hosted its annual departing Scholars’ dinner on the 13th of May 2024 to honour the Scholars finishing their awards. The dinner was held at The Ironmonger’s Hall at the Barbican Centre in London. The MACC Chair, John Raine, and this year’s keynote speaker, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in London, Matthew Palmer led a toast to the departing Scholars, and the Scholars’ speech was delivered by 2022 Scholar, Kennedy Miller.

Joint Scholarship Farewell Event

An inaugural joint scholarship farewell event was held on the 2nd of July 2024 at Alexandra Palace in London, UK. The event was for departing Scholars from the Marshall, Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship programmes. The Keynote speech was delivered by the MACC Chair, John Raine.

Communication and Outreach

Social Media

The Commission coordinates social media through its own Twitter feed alongside the AMS and British Embassy feeds. The Instagram account is managed by Marshall Scholars.

  • @MarshallScholar is the Commission’s Twitter account used to tweet content on current Marshall Scholars
  • @MarshallAlums is the Association of Marshall Scholars’ Twitter account. #ImAMarshall features snapshots of Marshall Alumni in the news and complements Embassy and MACC outputs
  • @UKinUSA is the Embassy’s twitter account used, amongst other things, to promote Marshall Scholarships. The Embassy leads key campaigns such as ‘Meet the Marshalls’, “Marshalls are…” and “UK University Profiles”
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/marshallscholar
  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marshall-aid-commemoration-commission
  • Website: www.marshallscholarship.org

Marshall Alumni Spotlight

Celebrating Seventy Years of Marshall

Seventy years since the founding of the Marshall Scholarship, the programme continues to transform lives, strengthen transatlantic ties, and contribute to positive change around the world. Here, we highlight three Marshall Scholars from the first cohort in 1954, whose experiences demonstrate how collaboration between the UK and US fosters lifelong connections and expands our shared impact.

Alexei Maradudin’s Reflection on the Marshall Scholarship Programme

1954 Marshall Scholar, University of Bristol

Seventy years ago, a scholar at Stanford University read about the Marshall Scholarship in the pages of his university newspaper. That discovery led to an experience that Alexei Maradudin says shaped his career, broadened his worldview, and fostered connections that have lasted a lifetime.

In the early 1950s, Alexei was beginning a distinguished scientific career. He was fascinated by the emerging study of dislocation theory, the atomic-level imperfections that determine the strength of materials. With the leading centres of research based in the UK, he saw a unique opportunity to pursue this work alongside some of the top minds in the field with a Marshall Scholarship.

The skills and connections he developed during his scholarship at the University of Bristol aided his significant achievements, including election to fellowship in several professional societies, an honorary doctorate from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, and leadership roles within the University of California.

When asked about his experiences in the UK, Alexei says: “What struck me was the kindness of the people I met, a slower pace of life…different words for common items, driving on the left-hand side of the road, the good public transportation system, and the accessibility of cultural events. I left Great Britain feeling that it would always be my second home.”

He also mentions the UK’s distinct approach to academia which has an emphasis on independent research and offers the freedom to delve deeply into a single topic.

Reflecting on the experience, Alexei credits the Marshall Scholarship with fostering his ability to work independently and confidently at an international level.

“Perhaps the largest impact of the Marshall Scholarship on my life was that it expanded my world view significantly.”

We asked if he has any advice for today’s Marshall Scholars: “My advice to a current or future Marshall Scholar would be to work your tail off to maximise the benefits from working with some of the top people in your field that this wonderful scholarship makes possible.”

How a Marshall Scholarship Helped Transform Public Health Around the World

Phyllis Piotrow, 1954 Marshall Scholar, University of Oxford

Seventy years ago, Phyllis Piotrow heard about the Marshall Scholarship from her cousin. She was drawn by the idea of studying at the University of Oxford, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Arriving in the UK in the early 1950s, she found a nation still recovering from the Second World War. Rationing had just ended, and many of Oxford’s buildings were under repair. Yet despite the challenges, she was appreciative of the beauty of the English countryside, the insights gathered from her lectures and tutorials, and the trips to traditional English pubs with friends.

Living alongside British and international students, Phyllis shares how she made lifelong friendships, including with a South African housemate and her best friend to this day, the actress Janet Henfrey.

She chose to study history at the University of Oxford, earning a first-class degree at a time when women in the United States were still fighting for professional equality.

“I decided that if all of these men could do it, I could do it too.”

The Marshall Scholarship transformed Phyllis’ career trajectory. She returned to the United States with a broader worldview and the conviction that she could contribute meaningfully to public service and global change. Her first job at the Library of Congress came thanks to the recognition of being a prestigious Marshall Scholar. From there, she became a legislative assistant to a US senator, a rare role for women in the 1960s, where she learned the mechanics of policy and politics.

Phyllis was later asked by the former senator to head up a committee, which is now called Population Action. The objective was to secure funding for international programmes for family planning and reproductive health. Later, Phyllis founded the Center for Communication Programs at Johns Hopkins University, where she pioneered efforts to integrate effective communication strategies into public health campaigns worldwide, with programmes reaching across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Reflecting on her career, Phyllis believes that the greatest impact of the Marshall Scholarship was the people she met. She also credits the Marshall Scholarship with giving her the confidence and independence to take on new challenges, to value different perspectives, and to see her own voice as a force for change.

Charles Whaley’s Lifelong Learnings from his Marshall Scholarship

1954 Marshall Scholar, University of Manchester

By 1954, Charles Whaley already had an impressive academic record, but a Marshall Scholarship offered something more than a UK education. It offered a chance to immerse himself in British literature and culture, a lifelong fascination of his.

One evening at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, Charles noticed a news release in the city editor’s wastebasket. It was about the creation of the Marshall Scholarship, a programme set up in 1954 in gratitude for the Marshall Plan, designed to strengthen ties between the United States and the United Kingdom. Charles applied and soon began a scholarship at the University of Manchester.

Seventy years later, Charles reflects on how his Marshall Scholarship transformed his life and career. Beyond his studies, Charles joined the Manchester and London press clubs, made lifelong friends, and explored every corner of the country. He lived the culture, embraced the history, and built friendships with remarkable people who would enrich his life for decades.

His advice for today’s Marshall Scholars: “Don’t hole up at the university and let the rest of the country go by. Experience the city and travel the country. Meet the people and share their stories. Make lifelong friends that way.”

Marshall Alumni Relations

Engagement with the 2000+ Marshall Scholar alumni community is primarily undertaken by the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS), an independent charitable organisation based in the United States. The MACC welcomes and supports AMS activity which ensures that Marshall Scholars develop new personal and professional connections as their careers advance, and remain connected to their UK experience and the British consular network in the United States.

Regular AMS activities include organising regional and national events for Marshall alumni, supporting the US orientation programme for new Marshall Scholars in collaboration with MACC and British Embassy Washington, and undertaking programming intended to strengthen US-UK relations through legislative and judicial exchanges connecting British and American lawmakers and jurists, as well as policy-focused forums.

2023-24 Events and Alumni Engagement

Over the 23-24 academic year, the AMS has deepened Marshall alumni engagement and elevated the visibility of the Marshall Scholarship scheme through robust programming, strategic partnerships, and targeted communications. Across the academic year, more than 1,300 alumni and guests participated in over 30 regional, virtual, and partner events co-hosted with US institutions such as Brown University and New York University and UK institutions including the University of Oxford.

A notable achievement was the 70th Anniversary virtual class reunion series, which saw participation from 550 alumni across 40 graduating classes and fostered intergenerational dialogue.

2024 Legislative Exchange and 70th Anniversary

In January 2024 the AMS hosted its annual US-UK Legislative Exchange in London and Oxford, facilitating dialogue between US and UK lawmakers, Marshall alumni, and policy experts. The US delegation was co-chaired by Representatives Mark Green (Republican – Tennessee) and Jim Himes (Democrat – Connecticut).

The four-day educational programme incorporated a reception to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Marshall Scholarship programme, which was kindly hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, in his Apartments in Parliament. The event included remarks by the Speaker and by Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow International Development Secretary; Leader of the House of Commons The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt; Congressman Jim Himes, Congressman Mark Green and 1977 Marshall Scholar Bob Kyle.

The 2024 Marshall Forum

The 2024 Marshall Forum, co-hosted with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, convened influential voices in economics, public policy, and innovation for a two-day event in June 2024. More than 90 in-person and 400 virtual attendees engaged with thought leaders such as Marshall alumnus Peter Orszag, CEO of Lazard, and other guests such as Austan Goolsbee, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

The MACC’s Chair and CEO attended the Forum and took the opportunity to award, on behalf of the Marshall Commission, a Marshall Medal to Dr Lisa D. Cook, a 1986 Marshall Scholar and current Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Presented by MACC Chair John Raine, the award recognised Governor Cook’s distinguished public service and her embodiment of the values of the Marshall Scholarship programme.

Alumni Support and Philanthropy

The AMS is an important philanthropic partner for the Marshall Commission, supporting scholarship awards through individual alumni gifts to UK universities and through an endowment fund. The fund was seeded by over 200 alumni with donations matched by Reid Hoffman CBE, 1990 Marshall Scholar and co-founder of LinkedIn, and now stands at $1.7 million, providing long-term support to future Marshall Scholars.

In total, the AMS directed approximately $292,000 in 2024 towards tuition fees and initiatives that support the experience of current Marshall Scholars. This included individual “Marshall Xtra” grants designed to enhance Scholars’ engagement with the UK during their studies, “Marshall Plus” funding to support Scholar-led activities.

This high level of engagement and activity demonstrates the continued leadership, generosity, and global impact of Marshall alumni, helping to ensure that the programme not only endures, but thrives, in a rapidly changing world.

Further information can be found in the AMS annual report for 2023-24, available on their website: https://marshallscholars.org/annual-reports

Selection of 2024 Scholars

At the Commission meeting held in October 2023, consideration was given to the budget for financial year 2024/25. The Commission agreed to recommend to the Ambassador’s Advisory Council that 50 new awards should be made for 2024.

The selection of the 2024 Scholars was undertaken by the Regional Selection Committees and confirmed by the Advisory Council held in Washington on 11 December 2023. The At-Large Selection Committee considered the award of Scholarships to reserve candidates.

The number of Scholarships which the Commission can award reflects the level of FCDO funding and the potential support available through partnerships with British Universities, Oxford and Cambridge Colleges and with other institutions.

The Commission has been proactive in negotiating with UK universities and others to provide additional funding support. This additional resource is worth over £1.3 million each year and is generated from our Partner universities and colleges; the National Institutes of Health in the US; and from the AMS; and the British Schools and Universities Foundation donations.

Placements

After the necessary places at UK Universities had been confirmed, the 40 Marshall Scholarships for 2024 were awarded across eight regions. The complete list of 2024 Scholars with their undergraduate institutions, UK universities, and degree programmes can be found in the full report.

Regional Distribution:

  • Atlanta Region: 8 Scholars
  • Boston Region: 5 Scholars
  • Chicago Region: 7 Scholars
  • Houston Region: 5 Scholars
  • Los Angeles Region: 5 Scholars
  • New York Region: 9 Scholars
  • San Francisco Region: 4 Scholars
  • Washington Region: 6 Scholars

The Commission encourages Scholars to consider wide range of institutions at which to study, reflecting the academic excellence of UK universities. The 2024 cohort will study at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, UCL, and many others across the UK.

Stipends

The revised stipend schedule from 1 October 2024, as determined by HMG, resulted in increases to the allowances payable to Marshall Scholars as follows:

  • Basic monthly living allowance from £1,347 to £1,378 (and from £1,652 to £1,690 for those registered at institutions within the London Metropolitan Police district)
  • Book allowance from £522 to £534 for first year Scholars
  • Annual grant for approved research travel from £300 to £305
  • Thesis grant from £493 to £504

In addition, the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS) funded an additional stipend payment of £1,000 per Scholar, known as Marshall Xtra.

Secretariat

The Commission continued the arrangement under which its Secretariat is provided by the British Council, whose offices at British Council, 1 Redman Place, London E20 1JQ, serve as its headquarters.

The detailed work was undertaken by:

  • Dr Emily Charnock – CEO of the MACC (from January 2024)
  • Ms Haley Addison – Manager
  • Ms Stephanie Berke – Programme Officer
  • Ms Ons Ziadia – Programme Officer (from May 2024)
  • Ms Anna Gane – Scholarship Assistant
  • Mr Denis Tkachuk – Board Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager

Access to Information

The Commission operated under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 2018 and had also developed a Publication Scheme to comply with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Further information can be found at https://www.marshallscholarship.org/the-commission/policies-and-open-data

Expenditure

Under Section 2(7) of the 1953 Act the Commission is required each financial year to prepare accounts of expenditure in such form as the Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury direct. The total expenditure of the Commission for the year ended 31 March 2024 was £3,300,777.

The Summary Accounts are attached at the end of this Report. These figures have been scrutinised by the National Audit Office and, as provided by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act 1953. The full accounts have been published separately and laid before Parliament. The British Council, on behalf of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, administers and recovers the costs of the Marshall Scholarship Scheme from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Membership of MACC and Committees

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

(as of 30 September 2024)

  • Mr John Raine CMG OBE (Chair) – Senior Adviser at the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies)
  • Mr Adrian Greer – Chancellor’s Assessor and Member of Court, University of St Andrews
  • Prof Adam Smith – Director of the Rothermere American Institute, Oxford
  • Prof Leslie Vinjamuri – Director, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House
  • Prof Chris Millward – Professor of Practice in Education Policy, University of Birmingham
  • Dr Andrew Bell – Senior Tutor, University College, University of Oxford
  • Prof Richard Black – Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool
  • Prof Frances Brodsky – Professor of Cell Biology, University College London
  • Ms Anulika Ajufo – Venture Partner, Sagana; Founder, Sequoia Platform
  • Prof Sarah Wolffe – Professor of Law, University of Strathclyde and University of Edinburgh

Education Committee

  • Prof Adam Smith (Chair)
  • Prof Chris Millward
  • Dr Andrew Bell
  • Prof Jon Erichsen

Audit and Risk Management Committee

  • Mr Adrian Greer (Chair)
  • Mr John Raine
  • Dr Ruth Kosmin
  • Prof Richard Black
  • Ms Diane Flynn

Scholar Experience Committee

  • Prof Frances Brodsky (Co-Chair)
  • Prof Lesley Vinjamuri (Co-Chair)
  • Prof Sarah Wolffe
  • Dr Ben Heineike
  • Prof Jon Erichsen

Observers

  • Ms Emma Hennessey – Head of the Scholarships Unit, FCDO
  • Mr Philip Everest – Policy lead – TSU, FCDO
  • Prof Jonathan Erichsen – 1972 Scholar, alumni observer
  • Dr Ben Heineike – 2002 Scholar, alumni observer

Appendices

Appendix 1: Marshall Scholars Graduating at British Universities Since the 70th Annual Report

A complete list of graduating scholars with their regions, years, universities, degrees, and merit/distinction awards can be found in the full annual report.

Appendix 2: Marshall Partnership Funding

University Partnership Scholarships – More than one new Scholar per year:

  • University of Bristol
  • University College London
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Edinburgh
  • Imperial College London
  • King’s College London
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Liverpool
  • London School of Economics and Political Studies
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (pause from 2025-26)
  • Queen Mary, University of London

University Partnership Scholarships – One new Scholar per year:

  • University of York
  • University of Bath
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Bradford
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Dundee
  • Durham University
  • University of Exeter
  • University of Glasgow
  • Guildhall School of Music and Drama
  • University of Hull
  • University of Keele
  • University of Kent
  • University of Manchester
  • Newcastle University
  • University of Nottingham
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • University of Reading
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of St Andrews
  • University of Sussex (part funded by a senior member of the AMS)
  • University of Warwick

College Partnership Scholarships – More than one new Scholar per year:

  • Magdalen College, Oxford (one award part funded by AMS donors)
  • New College, Oxford

College Partnership Scholarships – One new Scholar per year:

  • Balliol College, Oxford
  • Blavatnik-Brasenose, Oxford (new partnership from 2022/23 for Master of Public Policy only at Brasenose College)
  • Christ’s College, Cambridge (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences)
  • Christ Church, Oxford
  • Downing College, Cambridge (Biological Sciences)
  • Exeter College, Oxford
  • Emmanuel College, Cambridge
  • Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge – Roger Tsien Marshall Scholarship
  • King’s College, Cambridge
  • Magdalene College, Cambridge
  • Newnham College, Cambridge
  • Nuffield College, Oxford
  • Oriel College, Oxford
  • St John’s College, Cambridge
  • Somerville College, Oxford – Somerville Janet Watson Marshall Scholarship
  • St Peter’s College, Oxford
  • Trinity College, Cambridge
  • Trinity College, Oxford
  • University College, Oxford

Foundation Funded Scholarships:

  • AMS Marshall Scholarship: Funded by an endowment donated by members of the Association of Marshall Scholars. One Scholarship at a time for two years.
  • BSUF Marshall Scholarship: Funded by the British Universities and Schools Foundation and the AMS. One Scholarship at a time for two years.

Third Year Funding Scholarships:

  • Oxford Marshall Scholarships: Fully funded by the University of Oxford, up to three Scholarships.
  • Cambridge Marshall PhD Scholarships: Fully funded by the Cambridge Trust, up to two Scholarships.

US Partnership Scholarships:

  • NIH Marshall Scholarships: Jointly funded by the Commission and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA. These scholarships support research specifically in the subject areas of bioscience, medicine and related disciplines with a predominant application in bioscience.

Appendix 3: Marshall Medal Recipients

The Marshall Medal is awarded to people of outstanding achievement whose contribution to British-American understanding, distinguished role in public life, or creative energy, reflect the legacy of George C Marshall. It has been awarded on significant anniversaries in the life of the Scholarship programme or the Marshall Plan.

2003: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Act

  • Justice Stephen Breyer
  • Dr Ray Dolby OBE
  • Mr Tom Friedman OBE
  • Professor Nan Keohane
  • Mr Christopher Makins
  • Senator George Mitchell
  • Secretary Colin Powell

2014: Sixtieth Anniversary of the arrival of the first class of Marshall Scholars

  • Ms Anne Applebaum
  • Secretary Bill Burns
  • Dr Frances Dow CBE
  • Mr Bob Gray OBE
  • Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond
  • Lord Hannay of Chiswick
  • Professor Doug Melton
  • Mr Jonathan Taylor CBE
  • Dr Daniel Yergin

2017: Seventieth Anniversary of General Marshall’s Commencement Speech at Harvard University

  • Secretary Madeleine Albright
  • Ambassador Matthew Barzun
  • Dr Nancy Cox
  • Mr Reid Hoffman CBE
  • Dr Bill Janeway CBE
  • Rt Hon David Miliband

2024: Seventieth Anniversary of the Act of Parliament that created the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  • Governor Lisa Cook

Appendix 4: Chairs of the Commission

  • Sir Oliver Franks (1953-1956)
  • Rt Hon Lord Coleraine (1956-1965)
  • Rt Hon Lord Sherfield (1965-1973)
  • Sir Colin Crowe (1973-1985)
  • Sir Donald Tebbit (1985-1995)
  • Dr Robert Stevens (1995-2000)
  • Mr Jonathan Taylor CBE (2000-2007)
  • Dr Francis Dow CBE (2007-2011)
  • Dr John Hughes CBE (2011-2016)
  • Mr Christopher Fisher (2016-2021)
  • Mr John Raine CMG OBE (2021-)

Financial Statements

The summarised financial statements are a summary of information extracted from the full annual financial statements and do not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (‘MACC’).

For further information, the Commissioners’ Annual Report, the full Annual Financial Statements and the auditor’s report on those financial statements, should be consulted. These are all contained in the Annual Report and Financial statements, copies of which may be obtained free of charge from the Marshall Scholarship administration, MACC, British Council, 1 Redman Place, London E20 1JQ.

The annual report and financial statements were approved and were laid before Parliament as House of Commons paper HC 497 on 12 December 2024. The full annual financial statements from which the summary is derived have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who gave an unqualified audit opinion.

Summarised Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Item2023-24 (£)
Grants and Donations from third parties132,005
Total operating income132,005
Scholarship costs2,794,994
Selection process98,438
Administration525,823
Scholar experience in the UK21,619
Total operating expenditure3,440,874
Net operating expenditure3,308,869
Finance Income8,092
Net expenditure for the year3,300,777

Summarised Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 March 2024

Item2023-24 (£)
Current assets
Trade and other receivables738,108
Cash and cash equivalents277,112
Total current assets1,015,220
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables(459,839)
Total current liabilities(459,839)
Provision for future liabilities–
Total assets less total liabilities555,381
Taxpayers’ equity – General Fund555,381

Recognising the generosity of the past.
Supporting the promise of the future.

For Further Information:

ISBN 978-1-5286-5907-9
E03405926
Printed on paper containing 40% recycled fibre content minimum
Printed in the UK by HH Associates on behalf of the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office
September 2025