The Obama Foundation Introduces 2025-2026 Class of Obama Scholars at Columbia University and the University of Chicago
The Foundation welcomes its first Scholars from Albania, South Korea, and Uzbekistan as part of its eighth cohort
September 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM CDT
CHICAGO – The Obama Foundation today welcomed its eighth class of Obama Foundation Scholars, emerging leaders on the cusp of tackling broader challenges.These Scholars will engage in an immersive curriculum at Columbia University in New York City or the University of Chicago, in addition to robust programming offered by The Obama Foundation, throughout the 2025-2026 academic year.
The program’s global reach brings together leaders working in Chicago and across the world in health equity, climate action and resilience, democratic governance and media literacy, financial inclusion, refugee and migrant entrepreneurship, youth civic leadership, educator and community wellness, affordable housing, and more.
“We’re proud to welcome the newest class of Obama Foundation Scholars,” said CEO Valerie Jarrett. “They bring bold ideas, deep community ties, and a track record of turning vision into action. Over the next year, they’ll sharpen their skills, expand their networks, and learn from one another so they can return home ready to expand opportunities for the organizations and communities they serve.”
The Obama Scholars program plays a key role in advancing the Foundation’s mission to build the next generation of leaders. Founded in 2018, the program equips Scholars from around the world with practical skills, tools, and experiences that amplify their impact when they return home to their communities. Throughout the academic year, Scholars will engage in academic, skills-based, and experiential learning opportunities on their campuses, curated by Columbia University and the University of Chicago, in collaboration with The Obama Foundation. The Obama Foundation provides leadership development training, access to a global network, and personalized support that brings together the two campus-based cohorts through virtual and in-person programming to foster collaboration and further increase the impact of their social change work..
This year’s University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program brings together 18 graduate students from the Booth School of Business, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. The curriculum emphasizes the connection between local involvement and global impact, encouraging innovative solutions to complex issues facing communities in Chicago and around the world.
“Students in the University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program deeply value the ability to test ideas and partner with communities to translate insights from scholarship into impact,” said University of Chicago Provost Katherine Baicker. “By engaging partners across Chicago and beyond, these rising leaders will develop the tools needed to address complex challenges for the benefit of their communities.”
The Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University welcomes a cohort of 11 global social changemakers who will immerse themselves in a program designed to deepen their knowledge, build new capacities and networks, and amplify their impact. As a cohort, the Scholars will participate in weekly seminars, personal and professional development workshops, audited courses, and other programming created in collaboration with the Foundation.
“At Columbia, Scholars dive into a rigorous, interdisciplinary experience shaped by their interests and aspirations,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, Executive Vice President of Columbia Global. “Committed to work in democracy, governance, climate, migration and health, these young leaders are poised to help advance solutions to major societal challenges, strengthen institutions, and improve lives of people and communities across the world.”
To learn more about the program and see a list of the 2025-2026 cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars, please visit obama.org/programs/scholars.
About the Obama Scholars Program
The Obama Scholars program is The Obama Foundation's only international cross-regional leadership program, uniquely designed to connect dynamic leaders across geography and issue areas. Launched in 2018, this innovative, one-year academic and leadership experience is offered in partnership with the University of Chicago and Columbia University. The program empowers individuals with a proven commitment to service by equipping them with the tools, networks, and values-based leadership skills needed to tackle complex global challenges. Through a blend of academic coursework, experiential learning, and the Foundation's comprehensive leadership development curriculum, Scholars gain practical knowledge and mentorship that prepare them to drive change in their communities and beyond. To date, 190 Obama Scholars from around the world have participated in the program.
About The Obama Foundation
The Obama Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity. From every corner of the globe, our program participants are working together to address some of the biggest challenges of our time—from renewing our democratic institutions, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, fighting climate change, and so much more.
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Contact: Emily Bittner, press@obama.org