The Jerry Bender Africa Award

The Jerry Bender Africa Award is given to one School of International Relations student each year to fund an unpaid summer internship/research opportunity in Africa, in honor of Gerald (Jerry) Bender. Professor Bender taught at the School of IR from 1976 until his retirement in 2008. Today he is living in the Los Angeles area.  

He was one of the most admired teachers at the School, and he won every teaching award given by USC and Dornsife College.  A specialist on Africa, Professor Bender traveled there dozens of times, especially to Angola and South Africa.  He was a generous mentor to many USC students, not only in his courses but also helping students travel to Washington D.C. and Africa.   

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2013