The Obama Foundation and the University of Chicago have announced the inaugural class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the university’s Harris School of Public Policy. This class is made up of 25 emerging leaders from around the globe who are committed to finding practical solutions to global challenges. The scholars come from Asia, Africa, Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe and are focused on a variety of global issues such as climate change, education, and government transparency.
In addition to the class at the University of Chicago, the foundation also supports a class of 12 future global leaders at Colombia University in New York City. The two groups will meet in Chicago for a week-long orientation hosted by the Obama Foundation. The orientation will include workshops, meetings with Chicago community leaders, and a service project in Englewood.
The New York students will work with Colombia World Projects, a new initiative in which Colombia University faculty and student researchers work with various organizations to solve real-world problems. The Chicago students will participate in a new one-year master’s degree program in international development and policy program at the Harris School of Public Policy. Additionally, the foundation will offer leadership development and civic engagement workshops throughout the school year to enhance the scholars’ networking and professional skills.
Good to know that the Program is off and running. Congrats and best wishes to the inaugural cohort.