The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Program at the UMN Humphrey School

Happy Holidays! ☃️❄️ May this season be filled with joy, warmth, and connection, and may the year ahead bring inspiration, growth, and bright opportunities!✨

Congratulations to our remarkable Humphrey Fellows for taking 1st place in Global Minnesota’s annual Community WorldQuest Trivia event 🏆 🎉 Winning free tickets to the 2025 U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Tom Hanson!

Thank you to for hosting such a fun and exciting evening. What an unforgettable night of friendly competition, teamwork, and cultural exchange!

Our Humphrey Fellows had the honor of volunteering with a remarkable organization by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, dedicated to bringing joy to children in need by collecting and distributing unwrapped toys during the holiday season. This year, their goal is to collect 240,000 toys for kids in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. 

We’re proud to support their mission and help make the holidays brighter for families in our community. 🎁 ❤️

Visiting our Associate Campus Partner, 🎓

Our Fellows had an incredible visit – first a history lesson of community and technical colleges in the U.S. and locally in Minnesota, to understand their importance and need for students. They connected with the Dean of Student Success and , Pepe Wonosikou, and the Associate VP of Academic Affairs, Sarah Carrico. They also gained deeper insights into the programs Saint Paul College offers and the diverse students they serve.

The visit wrapped up with a campus tour, where the Fellows saw classrooms and learned more about Saint Paul College’s unique programs.

Thank you to Saint Paul College for hosting us and for your invaluable partnership in driving education and empowering our community! 🌟

Our Fellows volunteered at Food Center. Together, they packed over 150 food boxes and snack packs for members of our community! 🍎📦

Keystone’s food shelf in Ramsey County provides quality, healthy food for our neighbors in need. Along with their Foodmobile, crisis support, and additional programs, they’re strengthening our community by ensuring access to essential resources.

Thank you to Keystone Community Services, and to Sara Fleetham, one of our host families, for organizing this incredible volunteering opportunity. We’re proud to support this vital work and help make a meaningful impact in our local community! ❤️

Last month, the Fellows attended the 2024 Global Leadership Forum, which brought together Humphrey alumni, leaders, and U.S. government officials in Washington, D.C. 🌟🌐

Throughout the week, Humphrey Fellows participated in impactful discussions with Department of State leaders, program partners, and with one another to tackle and address pressing global challenges on AI, climate change crisis, food insecurity, human rights, equitable access to education and more. They heard from senior officials, the Office of the Special Envoy Critical and Emerging Technology, U.S. leaders, the World Bank, and inspiring alumni that shared insights, strategies, and success stories to empower the Fellows in driving meaningful change within their respective communities and countries.

Fellows engaged in policy sessions with Department representatives, including the Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, to empower the next generation of leaders, strengthen democratic resilience, and enhance global partnerships. They also attended the Diplomatic Reception at the U.S. Department of State which brought together Humphrey Fellows, foreign diplomats, U.S. government representatives, and alumni to celebrate international collaboration. 🎉

The event concluded with skill-building sessions focusing on resilience, trauma-informed engagement, and grant opportunities that provided Fellows with the tools and resources for effective leadership and collaboration, inspiring them to make a lasting impact in their communities all over the world. 🌍

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event so successful! We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and for the wealth of knowledge gained from this remarkable event.

Happy International Education Week! This week, we celebrate the power of education connecting us across the globe and the importance of sharing ideas, cultures, and languages 🌎📚✨

Our incredible Fellows volunteered with Classroom Connection program visiting middle and elementary schools in the Twin Cities, sharing their country’s culture, language, and activities to over 500 students! From our Fellows, Seoyoung from Republic of Korea and David from Colombia at two Albertville Middle Schools, to Kwezi from Uganda at Sullivan STEAM School, and Majo from Argentina at — they sparked global curiosity and knowledge, bringing an international perspective to Minnesota classrooms! 🎒🗺️ 

Two of our amazing Fellows, Aashraya from India and Hajar from Morocco, had the opportunity to present at the 2024 MINN Summit! This annual conference brings together globally-minded individuals and organizations to connect, share, and learn. It’s an incredible space for professional development and igniting meaningful conversations to advance international development success in a changing world. 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼💼💬

Here’s to learning from one another and fostering a more connected world! 🌱🌍✨

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Sreysrors Ly is a social activist and policy advocate in Cambodia 🇰🇭

She holds two bachelor’s degrees in Law and International Relations. She has worked extensively with local NGOs, and IOs, to push for policy changes in promoting human rights, transparency, and public health through research, training, and dialogue. Besides her key roles in social work, Sreysrors is a program coordinator at Transparency International Cambodia, where she has exercised her professional work on corruption. She provides legal advice and engages relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption. Sreysrors has been involved in the education sector, where she was a lecturer at the university and author of Enabling Foreign Investment in Cambodia at New Mandala. Through the Humphrey Fellowship, Sreysors aims to deepen her expertise in public policy analysis. She plans to use the knowledge, skills, and experience gained during the fellowship to make positive changes in her home country.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Stepan Karamalak is the Head of International Relations Service in the Council of Taraclia District of Moldova 🇲🇩

He is responsible for developing relations with neighboring states and fostering integration and ensuring the rights of minority communities. Additionally, he is a Deputy of the World Parliament of Bulgarians to Bulgarians Around the World. Stepan possesses a Master’s in International Relations from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and a Doctorate in International Relations and Politology from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria. During his Humphrey Fellowship, he plans to study international law in the field of protecting the rights of national minorities, public administration and management. Stepan sees the year as an opportunity to develop his skills in leadership and conflict resolution to prevent conflict on ethnic grounds.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

David Felipe Pérez Prieto is a Public Affairs Advisor for the Comptroller General of the Republic of Colombia 🇨🇴

He advises the General Comptroller in institutional relations with the Colombian Congress in constitutional accountability, and transparency issues. He is a Professor for Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, teaching Colombian political and decentralization processes, and also teaches at several NGOs. He holds a B.A in Political Science from , a M.A in Law from and certifications in Constitutional Law and Public Finance from Escuela Superior de Administración Pública. During his Humphrey Fellowship, David aims to further develop his expertise through working with US agencies to promote institutional reform and accountability to achieve transparency in all governmental operations. He hopes to expand his knowledge about American political systems, understand their innovations, legal aspects in public policies, and the interaction with its operation for making transparency a public good that empowers citizens.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Hajar Chakkouri is a Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism 🇲🇦

In this role, she is responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of plans and processes in furthering the country’s tourism industry. Hajar holds a Master’s in Tourism Marketing and Management from the National School of Business and Management. Hajar’s goals for the Humphrey Fellowship are to engage with American experts in the field and gain a firsthand view of how development policies are managed in tourism-focused organizations and to create innovative solutions to further tourism’s contributions to increased revenues and investments, job opportunities and the monitoring and evaluation of such initiatives in Morocco. Overall, Hajar’s vision of her Fellowship is to contribute to the development of a results-based management system, ensuring that the government will improve its effectiveness and accountability in its tourism strategies.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Lejla Ibranovic-Mulahasanovic is a Portfolio Manager for the in Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦

She coordinates the multi-donor local governance portfolio, with interventions ranging from public finance management, public infrastructure rehabilitation and service delivery, to innovation ecosystem development, as well as offers guidance on matters of policy to governments and counterparts. Lejla holds a Master’s in Politics and Government in the European Union from the - London School of Economics and Political Science. Throughout her Humphrey Fellowship, she wishes to further develop her professional skills and expertise in the design and implementation of policies and programs that advance democratization processes, generate transformative institutional change, and increase governance performance. Recognizing the importance of strong professional networks, Lejla believes that the Fellowship will enhance her networking skills to help her promote stronger relations between BiH, the United States and to foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Emmanuel Kwezi Tabaro is the Deputy Director of the in Uganda 🇺🇬

He is tasked with oversight of the Institute’s programming in Uganda and the wider East African region. Kwezi’s work over the last decade has focused on developing young and emerging leaders in public service. He is a renowned radio talk show host in Uganda where he discusses foreign affairs and domestic politics and regularly contributes to local and regional media publications like The Independent and The East African. Kwezi holds a Bachelor’s in Zoology and Chemistry from . Throughout the Humphrey Fellowship, Kwezi aims to advance his expertise in public administration, policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, as well as policy analysis, strategic management, and open government. He recognizes the value of networking and seeks diverse professional experiences in the United States to broaden his understanding and foster invaluable connections in both public and private institutions.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Seoyoung Park is the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for the Republic of Korea 🇰🇷

In her International Cooperation Division, she cooperates with international partners on women’s empowerment. Seoyoung holds a Master’s of Public Policy from Seoul National University and a BA in Business Administration. She sees the Fellowship as an opportunity to enrich her knowledge in leadership among future generations, including women and to gain practical experience in addressing the needs of her own country, to narrow the gender pay gap, to expand women’s participation in the STEM fields, economic empowerment of women, such as balancing work and family responsibilities. She aims to gain diverse perspectives through connections with U.S. organizations and the global alumni network. Especially, regarding the rapid decline in South Korea’s birth rate, she seeks solutions in ways of expanding gender equality and empowering women, aiming to enhance national productivity and competitiveness.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

PeerZada Waqar Alam is the Assistant Director of the National Accountability Bureau, the premier anti-corruption body of Pakistan 🇵🇰

He is a leader in the struggle for inclusion and accessibility, and committed to advocating for the rights of differently abled people. Previously, he served as a Deputy District Accounts Officer and Deputy Treasury Officer in the Finance Department of the Government of Punjab. PeerZada holds a Mphil in Management Studies from Gomal University and an MBA through the Virtual University of Pakistan. Throughout his Humphrey Fellowship, he aims to learn more about leadership, strategic planning, and project management, and acquiring the skills necessary for implementing effective policies and programs. PeerZada will use this opportunity to gain access to international best practices, enabling him to develop innovative anti-corruption strategies in an effort to create a more just and equitable society for all citizens of Pakistan.

It’s our pleasure to introduce the 2024-2025 cohort of Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows!

Aashraya Seth is the Founder of Impact91, an NGO based in Lucknow and Happy Periods India, a national non-profit initiative on menstrual equity 🇮🇳

He is responsible for designing over a dozen non-profit projects in education, environment and public health, cross-cutting gender. Aashraya’s work has impacted over half-a-million underserved and tribal women and girls. He invented India’s most affordable sustainable period product vending machine. Previously he served as the Global Inclusion Lead at The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, mentoring social entrepreneurs and organizations across the Commonwealth. He holds a Master’s in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s in Science. Aashraya views the Humphrey Fellowship as an exceptional opportunity to learn, act, and engage with a diverse network of global leaders and further educate and upskill himself in the area of gender justice. He aims to expand his expertise in innovative practices of creating awareness of menstrual equity, sexual and reproductive health rights, and empowering girls in STEM.