Meet the new World Fellows
Members of the campus community are invited to meet the members of the newest class of Yale World Fellows at a special reception this month and at two lecture and discussion series being held this fall.
International food, music and conversation will highlight World Fellows Night on Friday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. in Betts House, 393 Prospect St. The event is free and open to the Yale community.
The "Hot Coffee, Hot Issues" discussion series, which also offers Yale community members an opportunity to meet informally with the new fellows, will take place Fridays, Sept. 9-Dec. 2 (except Nov. 25), 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the third floor of Betts House. A continental breakfast will precede each meeting.
The Yale World Fellows Thursday Lecture series, which is also open to the general public, will take place on Thursdays, Sept. 22-Nov. 10, in the Sterling Memorial Library lecture hall (enter on Wall Street). A reception will follow each talk.
Building on Yale's reputation for training leaders (including four of the last six U.S. presidents), and aiming to develop a global network of emerging leaders and broaden international understanding at the university, the Yale World Fellows Program brings 18 accomplished men and women from around the world to campus each year for a 17-week leadership program.
"Now in its fourth year, the Yale World Fellows Program has created a vibrant network of leaders spanning more than 50 countries around the world," says President Richard C. Levin. "With the selection of the 2005 World Fellows, that network includes 10 new countries: Panama, Venezuela, the Bahamas, Kenya, Armenia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Israel, Vietnam and Japan."
Selected from outside the United States at an early mid-career point, World Fellows come from a range of fields and disciplines, including government, business, media, non-governmental organizations, the military, religion and the arts.
"The 2005 World Fellows have exceptional records of achievement and a proven capacity for leadership," says Daniel Esty, program director of the Yale World Fellows Program and professor of environmental law and policy. "Building on their access to Yale faculty, alumni, visitors and students, these World Fellows will be prepared for even greater roles of leadership when they return home. In fact, over half of the 2004 World Fellows have already experienced noteworthy career changes since their program ended last December."
From September to December, the 2005 World Fellows will take part in a specially designed World Fellows Seminar taught by some of Yale's most distinguished faculty; take any of the 3,000 courses offered at Yale (including courses in management, law, history, economics and political science); and participate in individualized skill-building sessions on public speaking, media training, conflict resolution and problem solving. The program provides the World Fellows with tuition fees, housing, travel, health care coverage and a $30,000 living stipend.
Through a private weekly dinner speaker series and trips to New York and Washington, D.C., World Fellows have access to U.S. government officials, business leaders, international affairs experts, Yale alumni and other American and foreign leaders. While at Yale, World Fellows develop invaluable contacts with one another and with U.S. academic and professional communities. World Fellows also have access to the extensive network of Yale graduates around the world. In addition, all World Fellows are invited to a biennial "Return to Yale" forum where current and alumni fellows meet and build a global association of world leaders, as well as renew their ties to Yale.
Reflecting on why he chose to take part in the Yale World Fellows Program, South African IBM executive and 2004 World Fellow Mteto Nyati said: "I decided to invest this time to take a step back from all the things I am involved in, develop new strategies and close knowledge gaps. At the end of the day, it was a very worthwhile investment. I have never been on any program that offers what this program offered."
Other past World Fellows include a Ugandan member of parliament now running for president of his country; a Canadian army officer, subsequently promoted to brigadier general, now in charge of strategic planning for the Canadian Army; a deputy director for the German Environment Ministry, now chief of staff for the President of Germany; a Philippine congressman, elected vice president of his party; a councilwoman from La Paz, Bolivia, now the city's director of human development; and a former head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo, now chief of staff for the U.N.'s Office of Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery headed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton (Yale Law School '73).
This year's World Fellows are:
Lusine Abovyan -- Armenia
A constitutional law specialist focused on legislative-executive relations, Lusine Abovyan is working with the Armenian Parliament to rewrite Armenia's constitution. A former journalist and lawyer by training, Abovyan, 31, works to ensure free speech and assert parliamentary power in Armenia.
For the past decade, Marianne Camerer has promoted governmental accountability in her native South Africa and throughout the world. Camerer, 35, is currently the co-founder and international director of Global Integrity, a non-governmental organization that developed out of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Integrity. At Global Integrity, she manages a network of 150 social scientists and investigative journalists in 25 countries to generate the "Public Integrity Index," the first international anti-corruption index.
As the chief superintendent of police for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Marvin Dames appreciates that policing requires a global approach. Dames, 41, works closely with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI, as well as other international law enforcement entities, to combat transnational organized crime.
As his homeland emerges into a new world of global trade, Bakhodir Ganiev aims to reduce poverty, attract foreign investment and develop the next generation of political leaders. Ganiev, 28, helped to form the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in 2003, and became the youngest nominee to the Uzbek national parliament in 2004. Ganiev is currently the national coordinator for regional development strategy at the UNDP Sustainable Income Generation Program in Uzbekistan.
Paromita Goswami seeks to empower some of India's poorest and most marginalized citizens -- the residents of the Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of the state of Maharashtra. To protect their rights and help them access justice, Goswami, 35, created three non-profit organizations in four years. One of these organizations, Shramik Elgar (The Marching Army of Working People), has allowed her to bring legal challenges on behalf of the rural poor to India's supreme court.
As chief domestic policy adviser to the president of Lithuania, Darius Gudelis has his finger on the pulse of Lithuania's daily political life. Elected the youngest mayor in the history of Lithuania at age 26, Gudelis rose to national prominence and established a track record for economic improvement and a reputation for ethical government. Gudelis, now 31, currently observes and assesses domestic political trends for the president.
As head of the China Governance Program at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, Irène Hors encourages Chinese government policymakers to address critical governance issues that affect China's social and economic development. In this role, Hors, 36, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between China and the rest of the world by aiding OECD member countries in better understanding China's complex governance challenges.
A senior partner with the Aries Law Firm in Abuja, Hauwa Ibrahim has successfully challenged numerous charges and convictions under strict Islamic Sharia law, including sentences of death by stoning and limb amputation. A firm proponent of the rule of law, Ibrahim, 38, has argued that Sharia law, despite its harsh punishments, requires the courts to respect the procedural and substantive rights guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
As the founder and director of Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Hassan Jabareen regularly argues before the Israeli Supreme Court on behalf of his clients. Jabareen, 41, is also a frequent contributor to and source for various international media outlets, including The New York Times and the Arab television network, Al-Jazeera.
Joaquín Jácome has just concluded five years of government service as minister of trade and industry for the Republic of Panama. In this capacity, Jácome began negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States and successfully shepherded the first four rounds of talks. Jácome, 39, now practices international law as a founding partner of his firm, Jácome & Jácome, maintaining his interest in international trade.
Khuat Oanh strives to improve public health in her native Vietnam by reaching out to at-risk populations through medical services, advocacy and education. Khuat, 34, co-founded the Institute for Social Development Studies, where she works as the director of the Center for Health and Social Development. A medical doctor, Khuat seeks to improve treatment for HIV/AIDS patients and advocates for harm reduction approaches to prevent HIV transmission from intravenous drug use.
As executive vice president and general counsel of South Korea's 10th largest conglomerate, Mi-Hyung Kim oversees all legal affairs for the Kumho Asiana Business Group. Kim, 41, is also an adviser to select members of the Uri Party, the current ruling reform party in South Korea, and encourages young Koreans to run for the National Assembly. Recognizing Kim's commitment to helping develop and stabilize North Korea's international relations, the World Economic Forum recently honored her as a New Asian Leader and a Young Global Leader.
As the director of the Henrich Böll Foundation in Europe and North America, Sascha Müller-Kraenner develops strategies relating to international policy, activism and civil society. Müller-Kraenner, 42, founded and directed the Washington, D.C. office of the Böll Foundation, where he worked closely with both the Clinton and Bush administrations, and initiated critical dialogues among German and American leaders.
Henry Njoroge works to expand the information technology sector of Kenya and currently serves as the managing director of UUNET Kenya Ltd., the leading business communications provider in Eastern Africa. Njoroge, 38, also established and expanded Fintech, UUNET, and several other information technology companies in Angola, Zambia and Uganda. With each of these companies, Njoroge works to redefine the Internet and telecommunications in Africa and make technology more widely accessible.
As the youngest secretary of energy in the history of the Philippines, Vincent Pérez worked to electrify over 6,500 villages and increase energy self-sufficiency by promoting clean indigenous natural gas and biofuels, investing in renewable geothermal and wind power, and expanding oil exploration. By encouraging energy self-sufficiency, promoting investments and upgrading a power infrastructure that will enable the Philippines to expand economically, Pérez, 47, has raised the global profile and worldwide influence of his homeland.
Reaching a global audience of over one billion people, Chinese anchorman Rui Chenggang, 28, seeks to reform the Chinese media by increasing the number of journalistic outlets in the country. An anchor, director and producer at China Central Television, and founder of China's first international television channel, Rui aims to restore and promote a positive global image of Chinese society.
Former congressman and governor, Henrique Fernando Salas-Römer is committed to improving the political situation in his native Venezuela. Elected to the National Congress at age 32, Salas served for two years before being elected governor of Carabobo, the third largest state in Venezuela, an office he won three times and held for nine years. Currently, Salas, 45, is vice president of the UPLA, a union of Latin American political parties, and remains one of Venezuela's most promising young politicians.
As one of the leading policy makers in the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kazushige Tanaka played a key role in building the Japanese government's forthcoming five-year framework for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Tanaka, 35, has also worked to stimulate regional economic growth, improve product quality, and foster technological innovation in Japan.
T H I S
Training international leaders
Skill building
Developing new strategies
Marianne Camerer -- South Africa
Marvin Dames -- Bahamas
Bakhodir Ganiev -- Uzbekistan
Paromita Goswami -- India
Darius Gudelis -- Lithuania
Irène Hors -- France
Hauwa Ibrahim -- Nigeria
Hassan Jabareen -- Israel
Joaquín Jácome -- Panama
Dr. Khuat Oanh -- Vietnam
Mi-Hyung Kim -- South Korea
Sascha Müller-Kraenner -- Germany
Henry Njoroge -- Kenya
Vincent Pérez -- Philippines
Rui Chenggang -- China
Henrique Fernando Salas-Römer -- Venezuela
Kazushige Tanaka -- Japan
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University greets its newest freshmen
Freshman Address by President Richard C. Levin
Freshman Address by Yale College Dean Peter Salovey
President of China to speak at Yale Sept. 8
New dean to promote 'values' seminars at SOM
Scientists correct key error in measurement of global warming
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
Joel Podolny named Beinecke Professor of Management
Emilie Townes is appointed to Andrew Mellon Professorship
Thomas Troeger is designated as the Cox Lantz ProfessorGrant to support research into reducing pain of pediatric surgery
Invitation to Yale community: Meet the new World Fellows
University celebrates Sterling Library's 75th anniversary
Conference will focus on role of religion in public life
Yale engages in special community projects during 'Days of Caring'
Yale hockey star Helen Resor is picked for U.S. Women's National Team
Descendents of John Davenport to converge on campus
The Cinema at Whitney, a new film society, begins weekly screenings
Heart-attack patients seeking after-hours care . . .
While You Were Away: The Summer's Top Stories Revisited
Cell biologist named Bayer Fellow
IN MEMORIAM
Abraham Goldstein, former dean and criminal law scholar
John-Michael Montias, economist and expert on Vermeer
Drama school hosts a memorial tribute to . . . Benjamin MordecaiCampus Notes
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