The Obama Foundation Introduces 2024-2025 Cohort of Obama Scholars at Columbia University and the University of Chicago
After receiving a record number of applications, the Foundation welcomes the first Scholars from Haiti, Italy, Fiji, Malaysia, and Morocco as part of its seventh cohort
CHICAGO – Today, the Obama Foundation welcomed its seventh cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars, featuring 30 emerging leaders ready to elevate their impact. These Scholars will engage in an immersive curriculum at either Columbia University in New York City or the University of Chicago throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. The Foundation received a record number of applications this year, and for the first time, the cohort includes Scholars from Haiti, Italy, Fiji, Malaysia, and Morocco, expanding the global footprint of the program.
The Obama Scholars program plays a key role in advancing the Foundation’s mission to build the next generation of leaders. The program, founded in 2018, equips Scholars from across the world with practical skills, tools, and experiences that will amplify the impact they make when they return home to their communities. Throughout the academic year, Scholars will engage in academic, skills-based, and experiential learning opportunities on their campuses curated by Columbia University and the University of Chicago, in collaboration with the Obama Foundation. The Obama Foundation provides leadership development training, access to a global network, and personalized support that brings together the two cohorts to further enrich their education after graduation.
“We're thrilled to welcome another group of exceptional changemakers into the Obama Foundation family,” said CEO Valerie Jarrett. “These Scholars bring with them a wealth of talent, passion, and a deep commitment to making a difference in their communities and beyond. By joining our global network of leaders, they will not only gain valuable insights and support but also contribute to a collective effort to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. We are confident that, together, they will maximize their potential and make their local impact global.”
This year’s University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program brings together 18 Scholars from across the Booth School of Business, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. This expansive curriculum allows Scholars to delve into the connection between local involvement and global impact, fostering innovative solutions to complex issues facing our world, with ten of the 18 Scholars planning to continue their work in Chicago, particularly in the neighborhoods near the future Obama Presidential Center, after completing the program.
“The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program fosters intense learning experiences for students as they learn to tackle complex problems and more deeply engage with communities in Chicago and across the globe,” said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos. “It helps these rising leaders build upon the education and skills they receive in their respective graduate programs at the University to make an impact in the areas they identify in order to be of service to communities across the world.”
The Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University will welcome 12 Scholars from 12 countries who will immerse themselves in a comprehensive program designed to enhance their knowledge, skills, and build new capacities and networks to amplify their understanding and global impact. As a cohort, the Scholars will participate in weekly seminars, personal and professional development workshops, audited courses, and other specialized programming created in close collaboration with the Foundation.
Wafaa El-Sadr, Executive Vice President of Columbia Global, stated, "The need for innovative, determined leaders has never been greater. This cohort of Scholars represent the kind of thinkers and doers who are essential for navigating and addressing complex issues by bringing fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and a deep commitment to making the world a better place."
To learn more about the program, please visit obama.org/programs/scholars. A list of the 2024-2025 cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars can be found here.
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ABOUT THE OBAMA SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Obama Scholars program is the Obama Foundation's only international cross-regional leadership program, uniquely designed to connect dynamic leaders across geography and issue areas. Launched in 2018, this innovative one-year academic and leadership immersion experience is offered in partnership with the University of Chicago and Columbia University. The program empowers individuals with a proven commitment to service by equipping them with the tools, networks, and values-based leadership skills needed to tackle complex global challenges. Through a blend of academic coursework, experiential learning, and the Foundation's comprehensive leadership development curriculum, Scholars gain practical knowledge and mentorship that prepares them to drive impactful change in their communities and beyond. To date, 161 Obama Scholars from around the world have participated in the program.
ABOUT THE OBAMA FOUNDATION
The Obama Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity. From every corner of the globe, our program participants are working together to address some of the biggest challenges of our time—from renewing our democratic institutions, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, fighting climate change, and so much more.
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Contact: Gloria Nlewedim Eichar, press@obama.org