Mandela Washington Fellowship
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has implemented the Mandela Washington Fellowship, supporting 700 Fellows each year from across Sub-Saharan Africa as they develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership in Business Institute at Notre Dame focuses on entrepreneurship. For six weeks, the Mandela Washington Fellows at Notre Dame engage in academic coursework, leadership training, cultural exchange, site visits, networking, and community service. This includes work with ND faculty, U.S. businesses and entrepreneurs, and members of the South Bend community.
Following their six weeks at Notre Dame, Fellows participate in the Fellowship Summit, where all 700 Fellows spend four days in sessions and networking in Washington, D.C.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institutes offer programs that challenge, motivate, and empower young leaders from Africa to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. The Pulte Institute receives critical faculty and course support for its Leadership in Business Institute from other units on campus, including, but not limited to:
Additionally, the Pulte Institute is proud to partner with IBM and Capsim to administer the program. Since 2014, IBM has provided immense support through funding and through direct programming provided by their staff and leadership.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship—which has become one of the most prestigious and sought-after exchange programs of its kind in the world—has also served as a major boon for Notre Dame as it has endeavored to become a truly international university. By accompanying Fellows and providing them with new knowledge, skills, mentors, and other resources to accelerate their career trajectories, the Pulte Institute has helped strengthen Africa's next generation of leaders, who are now better prepared than ever to robustly contribute to strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security across the continent and beyond.
For additional information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute implemented by the University of Notre Dame, please contact Administrative Director Sarah Genz or Academic Director Ed Jurkovic.
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.
Program Staff
- Edward Jurkovic - Academic Director, Mandela Washington Fellowship at Notre Dame and Senior Program Manager, Pulte Institute
- Sarah Genz - Administrative Director, Mandela Washington Fellowship at Notre Dame and Program Manager, Pulte Institute
- John Pinter - Leadership Manager and Community Partnerships Coordinator, Mandela Washington Fellowship at Notre Dame, John Pinter Consulting