Representatives from each of the 2020 YALI Institute Partners at the Institute Partner Retreat held Jan. 28–31 in Washington, D.C. Appalachian’s Dr. Brian MacHarg, director of academic civic engagement and co-director of Appalachian’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute, is pictured at far right in fifth row. IREX image
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has been selected as one of 27 universities nationally to host the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders — the flagship program of the U.S. Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Beginning in mid-June, Appalachian will host its fifth consecutive Leadership Institute as part of the program, in which 25 emerging civic engagement leaders from Africa will spend six weeks on Appalachian’s campus and in the community to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals. The Institute is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
“The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders helps Appalachian bring the world to Boone and builds relationships between these young leaders and our faculty, staff, students and community leaders that last long after the six weeks of the program,” said Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international education and development, director of international research and development and a professor of public administration in Appalachian’s Department of Government and Justice Studies.
Some highlights of the 2020 Appalachian Leadership Institute will include collaborations with faculty members, a homestay weekend with local families, volunteering at local organizations and a connection with a professional peer collaborator in the Boone community.
The Institute is supported through a partnership between the university’s Office of International Education and Development (OIED), Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) and Leadership Development — a component of the Department of Student Engagement and Leadership in Appalachian’s Division of Student Affairs.
Appalachian’s 2020 Fellows will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at educational institutions across the U.S.
At the conclusion of their Leadership Institutes, these young leaders will convene in Washington, D.C., for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where they will take part in networking and panel discussions with each other and with U.S. leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Following the summit, up to 70 competitively selected fellows will participate in four weeks of professional development at U.S. nongovernmental organizations, private companies and government agencies.
For additional information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute at Appalachian, contact Mallory Sadler at sadlerml@appstate.edu or visit the OIED website.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 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 www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org and join the conversation at #YALI2020.
What do you think?
Share your feedback on this story.
Office of International Education and Development
About the Office of International Education and Development
The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT)
Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) provides service experiences as opportunities to connect and engage with others to build authentic relationships, stimulate critical thinking and skill building, and recognize individual impact and responsibility to the local and global community. Between the 2004–05 and 2018–19 academic years, nearly $25.5 million of value has been contributed to the community via Appalachian State University’s Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) program (over 1.91 million hours of service plus $781,419 in funds raised) using the $25.43 per hour national standard for volunteer time. ACT partners with over 160 local nonprofits. Initiatives include blood drives, hunger and homeless awareness events, fundraising for local charities and alternative service experiences. Learn more at https://act.appstate.edu.
About the Division of Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs at Appalachian State University is committed to the development of lifelong learners and leaders by engaging and challenging students within a culture of care and inclusion. The division consists of 14 units that offer activities and services to help students develop more fully by becoming global learners, fostering healthy relationships, appreciating diversity and different perspectives, understanding community responsibility, enhancing self-awareness, developing autonomy and living ethically. These units include the Career Development Center, Wellness and Prevention Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Services, Parent and Family Services, University Housing, Student Engagement and Leadership, Student Conduct, University Recreation, Intercultural Student Affairs, Student Legal Clinic and Off Campus Student Services, Electronic Student Services, Child Development Center, and Staff Development and Strategic Initiatives. Learn more at https://studentaffairs.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Office of International Education and Development
