University of San Diego to Host 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

University of San Diego to Host 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

SAN DIEGO, CA: The University of San Diego (USD) is proud to announce that it has been selected as an Institute Partner for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.  Beginning in mid-June, University of San Diego will host 25 bright, emerging African leaders and entrepreneurs for a six-week academic and leadership institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The goal of the Mandela Washington Fellowship at the University of San Diego is to empower the next generation of great African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking, all in line with USD's mission to create a world of Changemakers. Fellows will arrive at USD this Friday, June 16, 2017.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities.  Fellows are from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa and have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations and communities.  The cohort of Fellows hosted by University of San Diego will be part of a larger group of 1,000 Mandela Washington Fellows studying at institutions across the United States this summer.  These exceptional young leaders will meet at the end of their institutes in Washington, D.C., for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where they will take part in networking and panel discussions with each other and U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.  Following the Summit, 100 competitively-selected Fellows will spend six weeks in professional development experiences with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.

Working closely with the U.S. Department of State and its implementing partner, IREX, Institute Partners have designed programs that will challenge, inspire, and empower these young leaders from Africa.

Some highlights of the University of San Diego program will include the week-long San Diego Start-Up Week showcasing innovation, resources, and knowledge, all while strengthening local connections.  Towards the end of the six weeks, Fellows will have the opportunity to develop prototypes in San Diego’s Design Lab at UCSD, and participate in USD’s own Mandela Social Innovation Challenge.   For more information about the fellows, please visit us here.

For additional questions about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute at University of San Diego please contact Melissa Olesen at 619-260-4659x4 or mwagoner@sandiego.edu.  

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a U.S. government program funded by the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by IREX.  For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit yali.state.gov and join the conversation at #YALI2017. 


About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.