as Yale World Fellows
Top political advisers to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mexican President Vicente Fox, two African members of parliament, an Australian Internet entrepreneur and a Canadian Army colonel who ran United Nations peacekeeping operations in Kosovo are among the 18 emerging world leaders named as 2003 Yale World Fellows.
Part of a broad effort to deepen Yale's reputation as a "global university," the Yale World Fellows Program (YWFP) brings 16 to 18 early and mid-career leaders to Yale each fall to study critical issues facing the global community. President Richard C. Levin announced the selection of the 2003 Yale World Fellows on April 30.
"The Yale World Fellows Program is building a global network of individuals who are poised to assume leadership roles in their own countries and on the global stage," says Levin. "The accomplishments and experiences of the 2003 World Fellows made them stand out in a pool of hundreds of impressive applicants to the program."
The World Fellows Program is designed to bring together leaders with a broad range of cultural and professional experience. The 18 selected for this year's program include non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders from India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, a human rights lawyer from Nigeria, a prominent women's rights activist from Egypt, a refugee doctor from Iraqi Kurdistan, an HIV/AIDS activist from China, an anti-corruption campaigner from Slovakia, a technology entrepreneur from Germany and high-level international trade experts from the European Union, Colombia and Chile.
"Those selected for the World Fellows Program have demonstrated an extraordinary personal commitment to making a difference, at the local, national or global level," says Daniel C. Esty, director of the World Fellows Program and a professor of environmental law and policy at Yale. "Each one has an exceptional record of achievement in his or her field and a demonstrated capacity for leadership at the highest levels."
During 15 weeks of intensive study between September and December, the World Fellows participate in a seminar on global issues taught by some of Yale's most distinguished faculty. They are also free to take any course offered in the University or to arrange independent study projects with individual members of the Yale faculty. The University's 2,000 faculty members teach 52 foreign languages and offer more than 600 courses dealing with international affairs. Each year the University hosts more than 1,500 foreign scholars.
World Fellows have intimate access to prominent Yale alumni and other American leaders, observed Kel Ginsberg, associate director of the World Fellows Program. "Last year's fellows met with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, Foreign Policy magazine editor Moises Naim, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer," Ginsberg said.
While at Yale, the World Fellows serve to broaden international understanding and open new avenues of exploration. "The World Fellows have brought an important real life dimension to discussions on global health at Yale," said Ilona Kickbusch, professor of epidemiology and public health and a member of the World Fellows advisory board. "They can make students understand how global forces affect local communities and illustrate the innovative capacity to respond. In short, they show that globalization is a two-way street." (See related story.)
To ensure that the network established during their time at Yale remains strong, participants will be invited back to World Fellows reunions. Alumni for the World Fellows Program will have the opportunity to attend workshops and lectures and to continue their dialogue and reflection on critical issues of the day.
In recent interviews, the 2003 Yale World Fellows said they were extremely excited at the prospect of coming to Yale.
"Through my interaction with other World Fellows in the renowned academic environment of Yale, I hope to broaden my knowledge of many global issues and return to Nigeria better prepared to assist in the critical task of nation building," said Chinwe Uwandu. As a human rights lawyer for the Nigerian government, Uwandu organized public hearings for more than 400 human rights violations perpetrated during 30 years of military rule.
"There is no single solution to the problem of urban poverty in Asia and Africa," said Bombay native Celine D'Cruz, who has spent more than 15 years fighting to bring land security, housing finance, and basic amenities to slum dwellers. "Progress will come through a cooperative effort involving local and national government, international NGOs, and the organizations of the urban poor themselves. At Yale, I plan to draw on the considerable expertise of faculty and other World Fellows to learn how to organize this effort."
Each of the fellows will be affiliated with a Yale College and will be asked to share his or her insights and experiences at various events across the campus, Esty says.
"In addition to expanding the personal and professional horizons of the fellows, the World Fellows Program seeks to provide a vantage point on the world for the entire Yale community," he notes.
The following are brief profiles of the
18 individuals who have been designated as 2003 Yale World Fellows:
A business executive turned information technology entrepreneur, Hugh Morrow founded one of Australia's most successful Internet businesses. He sold the company in 2000 and is now working to strengthen Australia's non-profit sector through financial and intellectual capital investments.
As commander of the Canadian forces assigned to the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Colonel Michael Ward oversaw efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and rebuild civil society. Now, back in Canada, he has just completed an Army modernization project.
A top Chilean trade expert, Carmen Dominguez helped to negotiate the groundbreaking free trade agreement between the United States and Chile concluded this year. Now in Chile's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization, her work focuses on trade-related aspects
of intellectual property rights and services negotiations.
Angela Orozco-Gomez is a former minister of foreign trade for Colombia and one of the country's top economic development experts. She oversaw the creation of a strategic export plan for Colombia and helped draft the country's negotiating strategy for the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Hodda Elsadda, a professor of English
literature at Cairo University, is one of
Egypt's most outspoken advocates for women's rights. She founded an independent research center that provides "alternative cultural information" on the roles women have played in Arab history.
A media manager and entrepreneur, Andrej-Nicolai Henkler led the turnaround of a struggling television station, increasing market share by 70% and tripling advertising revenue. He now serves as CEO of a media marketing company.
A leading advocate for the urban poor in Asia and Africa, Celine D'Cruz is coordinator of Slum/Shack Dwellers International. Her organization seeks to combat urban poverty and to promote land security, housing finance and basic amenities for slum dwellers.
A researcher, activist and leader of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Kamala Chandrakirana has spent 10 years battling for women's rights and seeking solutions to structural poverty in Indonesia. She heads a presidential commission addressing violence against women through documentation, public education and legal reform.
Ali Sindi, a practicing specialist in general surgery and health administrator, helped rebuild the critical infrastructure of Kurdistan after Iraqi officials withdrew from the region. He supervised the delivery of health services to 2.5 million residents, increasing immunization coverage and lowering the infant mortality rate.
A leader in Mexico's regional government, Sofia Frech helped manage Vicente Fox's campaign for the presidency in 2000. She now serves as the PAN party's national legislative strategist.
Hiddo Houben, a top European Union (EU) trade official, played a key role in international negotiations aimed at integrating China and Russia into the global economy. He now manages EU trade relations with Russia and the Ukraine and helps shape EU trade policies related to transitional economies.
One of Nigeria's top human rights lawyers, Chinwe Uwandu organized public hearings for more than 400 human rights violations perpetrated during 30 years of military rule. Today, she is deeply involved in government efforts to hold accountable those responsible for abuses.
One of China's most influential HIV/
AIDS activists, Wan Yanhai founded the AIZHI Action Project, an NGO that uses health education, research, publishing and conferences to focus attention on the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in China.
President of Transparency International Slovakia, Emilia Beblava battles institutional corruption by raising public awareness and lobbying for legislative reform. She is one of Transparency International's foremost experts in anti-corruption strategies for former communist countries.
Raenette Taljaard, the youngest woman ever elected to parliament in South Africa, plays a critical role as opposition spokeswoman on a number of key issues. She has led the charge to limit small arms trading
in Africa.
Norbert Mao, a member of parliament from war-torn northern Uganda, consistently speaks out against corruption and in support of peace and human rights. He plans to make a bid for the Ugandan presidency in 2006 on a platform of democratic reform.
A widely published expert in the politics of ethnic pluralism, Shamit Saggar was appointed senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2001. As a member of the Prime Minster's Strategy Unit, he focuses on such issues as the ethnic minority labour market, migration, local government, citizen engagement and strategic audit.
Brian Kagoro, a leading constitutional lawyer and political organizer in Zimbabwe, serves as coordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. In this role, he plots strategy for the more than 100 NGOs trying to counteract problems created by the Mugabe government.
T H I S
Hugh Morrow: Australia
Michael Ward: Canada
Carmen Dominguez: Chile
Angela Orozco-Gomez: Colombia
Hoda Elsadda: Egypt
Andrej-Nicolai Henkler: Germany
Celine D'Cruz: India
Kamala Chandrakirana: Indonesia
Ali Sindi: Iraq
Sofia Frech: Mexico
Hiddo Houben: Netherlands
Chinwe Uwandu: Nigeria
Wan Yanhai: People's
Republic of China
Emilia Beblava: Slovakia
Raenette Taljaard: South Africa
Norbert Mao: Uganda
Shamit Saggar: United Kingdom
Brian Kagoro: Zimbabwe
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