Mandela Washington Fellowship
LSU is proud to have been selected as an Institute Partner for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. During the summer semester of 2024, LSU hosted 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Civic Engagement leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
During their six-week visit to LSU, the Mandela Washington Fellows established meaningful professional networks in Louisiana. Through both classroom discussions and hands-on projects, Fellows engaged with locals on the topics of community development, advocacy and social change, leadership, and collaboration. The goal of the six-week Institute was to provide mutual learning: LSU supported the Fellows’ leadership development and learned from their valuable expertise, experience, and cultural context.
Meet the Fellows
The Mandela Washington Fellows who visited LSU's campus hail from twenty African countries. They are trailblazers in technology, art, and sustainability. They advocate for the rights of women, of people with disabilities, and of those struggling with their mental health. They care for people facing addiction, youth incarceration, and serious medical concerns. And they are shaping the future of agriculture, science education, and opportunities for youth. In the face of humanity’s most pressing needs, they take action – as leaders and problem-solvers. LSU is deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with this remarkable group of Fellows.
Institute Planning Team
The Office of Global Engagement and LSU's Center for Community Engagement, Learning and Leadership (CCELL) led the programming for the Mandela Washington Fellows' visit and collaborated with many LSU departments, colleges, and institutes; Southern University leaders and academic units; and a network of Baton Rouge community programs.
The LSU faculty and staff members who directed the program are Dr. Sarah Becker, Academic Director; Laura Dean, Administrative Director; and Dr. Oliver Crocco, Leadership Director (pictured).
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org and join the conversation at #YALI2024.