Columbia World Projects has announced the latest cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars, emerging leaders from around the world who will study at Columbia University for the 2021-22 academic year. In addition, the University of Chicago and the Obama Foundation have announced its new cohort of University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars.

Launched in 2018, the scholars program, which selects twelve emerging leaders at each university, is designed to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective and impactful across their global communities. At Columbia, the latest scholars will receive a yearlong academic experience including a customized weekly seminar, personal and professional development workshops, audited coursework, a thought leadership speaker series, and additional programming designed by Columbia World Projects in consultation with the Obama Foundation. The newly redesigned program at the University of Chicago will bring together scholars from across campus who are current students in their final year of study in a master's program at UChicago's Booth School of Business, Harris School of Public Policy, or Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. The scholars will supplement their UChicago studies with innovative co-curricular programming, engage with partners on the South Side of Chicago, and apply those experiences in communities in Chicago and across the globe.

This year's Columbia scholars include Jean-Noé Landry, a social entrepreneur, open data advocate, and former executive director of Open North (Canada), who is guiding public, private, and community stakeholders toward responsible and collaborative use of data and technology to solve complex social and environmental problems; Patience Musiwa Mkandawire, founder and executive director of Fount for Nations (Malawi), who is building inclusive learning opportunities for children in Malawi by improving educational access and equity for children with special needs and intellectual disabilities; and Juliana Tafur, a social impact filmmaker and founder of Story Powerhouse (U.S.), who is designing and implementing a listening methodology to inspire positive dialogue across differences and foster human connection. The Chicago scholars include Mara Heneghan, director of policy at the office of the Cook County board president, who will work to strengthen local government response to economic justice and assist residents during the pandemic and beyond; Samantha Alexandra Martinez, co-founder of the Gage Park Latinx Council, who is working to empower young people of color from the southwest side of Chicago to imagine new possibilities and be changemakers in their communities; and Tom Voutsos, co-founder and CEO of LadderUp Housing in Toledo, Ohio, who will work to close the wealth gap by providing an alternative pathway to homeownership in the Midwest.

"It is truly remarkable to see the steadfast commitment of these rising leaders working to meet the economic, educational, and social needs of their communities across the globe," said Obama Foundation president Valerie Jarrett. "These individuals have displayed profound courage, dedication, and the spirit needed to create lasting change in the world, especially during challenging times. I'm thrilled to welcome this cohort of scholars."