Class of 2020

A Nigerian journalist, a Mexican biotech entrepreneur and an Afghan human rights lawyer are among the 14 women and men who have been selected as 2020 World Fellows.

This cohort brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 359 Fellows, representing 91 countries. This year marks the 19th cohort of World Fellows.

“I am delighted to welcome the new cohort of World Fellows. They are exceptional leaders from across the globe, with extraordinary skills and experiences, who are dedicated to improving their societies,” said Emma Sky, director of the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program. “It’s a mark of their characters that despite these challenging circumstances they remain committed to sharing their expertise, mentoring students, and contributing to Yale and New Haven.”

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 practitioners from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

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.