Class of 2017

A Liberian doctor, a Mongolian human rights lawyer, an Argentinean social entrepreneur and 13 other innovative and courageous leaders have been named 2017 World Fellows.

This cohort brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 309 Fellows, representing 87 countries. This year marks the 16^th cohort of World Fellows.

“The 2017 World Fellows are extraordinary individuals who share a commitment to open society and a belief that what unites us is far greater than what divides us,” said Emma Sky, director of the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program. “They join our network of over 300 World Fellows, working to make our world a better place for all,” she said.

The World Fellows program is Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative and a core element of Yale’s ongoing commitment to internationalization. Each year, the University invites a group of exemplary mid-career professionals from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

“I am honored and delighted to welcome these leaders and innovators to campus,” said Yale President Peter Salovey. “World Fellows have improved people’s lives, and their contributions have far reaching influence on society. They enrich our learning environment by sharing their expertise and experiences with our students and faculty. They have the opportunity to grow academically and personally as they interact with our community. This program is an example of Yale’s commitment to developing globally engaged leaders.”

The mission of World Fellows is to cultivate and empower a network of globally engaged leaders committed to making the world a better place. The program is part of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, which prepares Yale students for global leadership and service through its master’s program in global affairs, master of advanced study in global affairs and undergraduate major in global affairs.