Humphrey Fellows wrap year at VU

Top Row: Ali Alshehabi (Bahrain), Iyke Chukwu (Nigeria), Mohamed Yunus (Myanmar), Gui Bueno de Camargo (Brazil); Middle: Nana Hadiza Bilali Ka (Niger), Roseline Sherman (Liberia), Mar Mar Thwin (Myanmar), Bushra Jamal (Pakistan), Aamaal Ali (Maldives); Front: Hiral Adhyaru (India).

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program will honor 2012-2013 Fellows and their network of supporters during a special closing ceremony on Thursday, April 25, in the Wyatt Rotunda at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development.

During 10 months at Vanderbilt, the 10 educational leaders from nine developing nations and emerging democracies engaged in intensive academic coursework and professional development, while sharing their knowledge, expertise and culture with the campus and Nashville community.

The ceremony will feature an address from Humphrey Fellow Aamaal Ali, as well as remarks from Xiu Cravens, associate dean of international affairs, Provost Richard McCarty, and Frank Wcislo, dean of the Ingram Commons. Pearl Sims, senior lecturer, Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations, was selected by the Humphrey Fellows as this year’s Impact Speaker.

While the celebration marks the end of their academic studies at Peabody, through mid-June the Fellows will engage in internships with a variety of organizations, including the Achievement School District, Discovery Education, the Parthenon, Metro Nashville Public School’s Martin Professional Development Center, MNPS’s Innovation Cluster, Metro Human Relations Commission, InterFACE Ministries, Eakin Elementary School, Overton High School, the Rhode Island Department of Education, The Islamic Center of North America, Microsoft and the Global Partnership for Education.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was initiated in 1978 to honor the late senator and vice president and his life-long commitment to international cooperation and public service. The program brings accomplished mid-career leaders from developing nations and emerging democracies to the United States for an academic year to study, gain professional experience and foster cultural exchange.

Humphrey Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or the private sector. The Humphrey Fellowship Program’s mission is to foster a mutual exchange of knowledge and understanding about issues of common concern in the United States and the Fellows’ home countries while offering Fellows valuable opportunities for leadership development and professional engagement with Americans and their counterparts from many nations.

Contact: Nancy Dickson
nancy.j.dinunzio@vanderbilt.edu