The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Program at the UMN Humphrey School

As the program year draws to a close, Humphrey Fellows presented their end-of-year reflections to fellow participants and host families.

These presentations highlighted key learnings, professional growth, and the meaningful connections built throughout the fellowship and how they plan to implement some of that back home.

Twenty nine years after his Humphrey Fellowship, Mr. Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, Chief Justice of Malawi, returned to the Humphrey School; a powerful full-circle moment.

Through his reflections on justice for all and public service reform, he shared a vision of leadership grounded in integrity, accessibility, and responsibility.

For current Fellows, it was more than a visit, it was a living example of the lasting impact this program creates. Having a current fellow Leah Mwagomba from Malawi made it even more special. 🇲🇼

HHH fellows 25-26: A remarkable group of fellows representing ten countries, now just weeks away from completing their Humphrey Fellowship journey at the University of Minnesota.

Over the past year, they have brought diverse perspectives, professional expertise, and a shared commitment to public service engaging in meaningful dialogue, collaborative learning, and cross-cultural exchange.

As they prepare to transition from this chapter, they carry forward not only new knowledge and skills, but also lasting connections that will continue to shape their impact around the world.

Leah Mwagomba, a current Hubert H Humphrey Fellow, recently participated in the Community College Residency Program at the University of South Carolina Union.

Reflecting on the experience, Leah shared:
“It was an enriching experience that I enjoyed so much. While strengthening my cross-cultural communication and leadership skills, I was able to recognize how global perspectives, such as my work in governance and anti-corruption, can meaningfully contribute to institutional dialogue and practice.”
Leah is a Senior Investigations Officer at the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

CCRP is an opportunity for selected fellows to increase their professional networks in the United States and play a role in a community college’s internationalization plan.

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming back Kathya Dawe, a Humphrey Fellow (2010–11) and International human rights specialist, to speak with our current Fellows.

Hearing about her incredible journey and the impact of her work was both inspiring and grounding and a powerful reminder of what this fellowship can grow into over time.

This spring semester kicked off with an engaging and insightful session featuring R.T. Rybak, former Mayor of Minneapolis and current President & CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation.

We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from his perspectives on leadership, equity, public service, and community engagement.

Our Fellows left inspired by a conversation grounded in real-world experience and a deep commitment to creating impact.

Thank you, R.T. Rybak, for sharing your time, insights, and wisdom with the Humphrey community!

Happy Holidays! ☃️❄️

As we close out the year, we’re grateful for the connections, conversations, and shared learning that make this global community so special. May this season bring rest, joy, and meaningful connection, and may the year ahead be filled with renewed purpose and hope, inspiration, collaboration, and bright opportunities!✨

This fall semester was marked by meaningful dialogue, thoughtful reflection, and rich learning experiences. 💬 We are deeply grateful for the distinguished guests and experts who joined us to share their insights and engage with our Fellows!

From Christopher Preble of the discussing global security, to Humphrey alumni Kwezi Tabaro and David Perez offering reflections on their Fellowship experience, our Fellows benefited from perspectives grounded in both research and lived experience. We are grateful for Tom Hanson’s overview of the state of foreign policy, Luis Moreno’s session on leadership and emotional intelligence, and Master of Development Practice alum Nfamara Dampha’s discussion on global climate change and national COP engagement. Seminars on LinkedIn networking, storytelling, and public speaking further supported our Fellows’ professional growth and global leadership development. 🌍✨

Thank you to each of our speakers for generously sharing your time, expertise, and wisdom. This semester was one of true enrichment and growth!