UC Davis welcomes its 31st cohort of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. The prestigious program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from countries around the world to host universities throughout the United States. Twelve fellows from 11 different countries will spend the 2022-23 academic year in Davis strengthening their professional skills, improving their leadership abilities, and engaging in meaningful collaboration and connections across campus.
In June, UC Davis welcomed the 2022 cohort of Mandela Washington Fellows, 25 young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa who are dedicated to promoting positive impact in their home countries. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), administered by the U.S. Department of State. UC Davis is one of 27 campuses across the United States selected to hold an Institute this summer.
I am Marilyn Mawusi Azumah, a senior nursing officer at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Health access and improving patient outcomes with better post-discharge care is my passion. My focus is to reduce the complications of non-communicable diseases. Thus, I was inspired to become a Mandela Washington Fellow to receive mentorship on creating sustainable solutions towards these goals. My experience with the program has been wonderful.
What motivates you? My participation in this exciting program will certainly influence my daily activities back home. It will help to acquire the additional tools and expand my knowledge related to energy management and above all, teach me how to tackle energy issues from a global perspective.
What motivates you? I am motivated by fulfillment, which I interpret as an inner and greater sense of satisfaction that I strive to achieve daily in my work and life; and to reach out to help others and give back to society.
As part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program, Fellows develop Ignite Talks, short and poignant speeches that spotlight issues facing their communities, their lives and the world. This is the Ignite Talk delivered by Daniel Oladoja (Nigeria, 2022), in his own words.
What motivates you? I'm most motivated when I complete a task, tasks that have an impact on a child's access to education, health and other amenities and opportunities.
What motivates you? As a young African, what motivates me is my passion to work for Africa's development and the improvement of people's living conditions, especially in Cote d'Ivoire, my country.
