U.S. State Department Announces Host University Partners for 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
April 6, 2015

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the U.S. colleges and universities that have been selected to host the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders this summer.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The Fellowship empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and support for activities in their communities. Fellows are young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa who have a proven record of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, or communities.

This summer, 500 Mandela Washington Fellows will attend top U.S. colleges and universities for a six-week academic and leadership institute in one of three areas: Business and Entrepreneurship; Civic Leadership; or Public Management. The twenty selected U.S. institutions represent the excellence and diversity of U.S. higher education. Institute hosts include public and private institutions, Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, large universities, and small colleges and are located throughout the United States. Working closely with the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and its implementing partner, IREX, these outstanding universities and colleges have designed academic programs that will challenge, inspire, and empower the young Fellows from Africa.

The 2015 Host University Partners are: Arizona State University, Clark Atlanta University, Dartmouth College, Florida International University, Georgia State University, Howard University, Northwestern University, Presidential Precinct (consortium with University of Virginia and College of William & Mary), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Syracuse University, Tulane University, The University of California, Berkeley, University of Delaware, University of Minnesota, The University of Nevada, Reno , University of Notre Dame, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin – Stout, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Wagner College.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. government and supported in its implementation by IREX. Join the conversation online with #YALI2015.