“We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of Scholars for the upcoming academic year. I’ve seen the transformational impact the program has had on prior Scholars who participated in the program, and I am confident this will hold true for our newest Scholars. While the program will contribute to their professional development, we and the whole Columbia community will be inspired by their presence,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, the Director of Columbia World Projects.
“It has been tremendously gratifying to witness the growth and evolution of this program over the last four years,” said Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger. “The Obama Foundation Scholars have proven themselves to be an exceptionally talented group of people dedicated to addressing complex challenges in their communities and around the world. Our university community has been made richer by their engaged and forward-looking presence.”
“The Obama Scholars program provides students with the unique opportunity to give and gain insight into the work that fellow young leaders are driving in their communities, while speaking to the intersectionality of their efforts through collaboration,” said Obama Foundation Chief Executive Officer Valerie Jarrett. “We are eager to welcome the new cohort of Scholars to the Foundation family–a network of changemakers tirelessly working for a more equitable future.”
The Obama Foundation Scholars program, which launched in 2018, is designed to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective and impactful across their global communities. In addition to the cohort at Columbia University, another group of Scholars participates in the program at the University of Chicago.
