The U.S.–Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders Fellowship, announced by the White House in conjunction with the first-ever U.S.–Pacific Island Country Summit in September 2022, will bring mid-career leaders from Pacific Island countries and territories to the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington for a four-week leadership development program beginning in the fall of 2023.
Fellows will receive training in leadership and decision-making, and will participate in programs that deepen their understanding of key international issues such as energy, development, climate, and public health. The program will consist of classroom and extracurricular activities to help rising leaders develop these skills, drawing on faculty from Johns Hopkins SAIS and other divisions of the university, and distinguished thought leaders from the public and private sectors.
Who can participate?
Participants should be high-achieving mid-career leaders from the public, private, or non-profit sectors. Suitable nominees will generally have at least seven years of relevant work experience, and will have demonstrated a track record of leadership. Participants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
How will Fellows be selected?
Johns Hopkins SAIS will convene a distinguished selection panel that will choose up to two participants from each of the Pacific Island countries and territories. The panel will consult closely with government officials in the region, the Department of State, and other key experts and stakeholders. Leslie Cockburn, a renowned journalist with extensive experience in the Pacific, will be working with the White House and SAIS to coordinate this initiative and raise awareness in the region regarding the Fellowship and the nomination process.
How can I nominate a candidate for this Fellowship?
Governments and other interested parties are encouraged to provide recommendations for candidates for this Fellowship. As the selection panel seeks to build a cohort that reflects the diversity of Pacific Island countries and territories, recommendations of outstanding female candidates or those from underrepresented communities are encouraged.
When does the program begin?
The first Fellowship cohort will come to Washington in the fall of 2023.
For inquiries, or to recommend suitable candidates for this Fellowship, contact Johns Hopkins SAIS at sais-pacific-leaders@jhu.edu.
