Eighteen students have been named to the 2025-26 cohort of the University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program, according to an announcement on September 4. The new group includes students from the Booth School of Business, Harris School of Public Policy, and Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
The selected scholars represent communities from around the world as well as across Chicago. Their work addresses issues such as equitable access to education, civic engagement, climate resilience, and affordable housing.
The Obama Foundation Scholars program is designed to provide participants with practical skills and experiences that build on their community work. The curriculum offers opportunities for skill development, peer connection, and leadership programming led by the Foundation. These activities include networking opportunities and personalized support after graduation.
“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 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.”
Since its start in 2018, the program has supported 190 leaders from 67 countries. This year’s class consists of 29 leaders from both UChicago and Columbia University who are working on projects ranging from healthcare improvements in Chicago to expanding educational access in Uzbekistan.
“We’re proud to welcome the newest class of Obama Foundation Scholars,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. “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.”
Funding for this year’s program comes from BMO Harris Bank; Robert and Jane Clark; The Clayco Foundation; The Crown Family; The Harris Family Foundation; Rachel DeYoung Kohler and Mark S. Hoplamazian; The Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation; Charles Ashby Lewis and Penny Bender Sebring; The Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation; The Neubauer Family Foundation; Susan Rustandy; and Tandean Rustandy.
This year’s scholars include individuals such as Temilade Adelakun (Nigeria), who works on empowering girls in STEM fields through education initiatives in Africa; Megha Bhattacharya (Chicago), a former diplomat focused on civic engagement among young leaders; Christian Ochoa (Wyoming, Michigan), advocating for kidney health outreach on Chicago’s South Side; Sonia Garcia (Chicago), supporting food access through policy at Greater Chicago Food Depository; Safa Baig (Pakistan), working towards more inclusive public spaces for women in Pakistan; Risolat Makhsimova (Uzbekistan), advancing youth empowerment through policy innovation; Eltjana Plaku (Albania), consulting with emerging economies for sustainable growth at World Bank; Carmen Rozas Olivera (Peru), promoting leadership access via public policy reforms for women and youth in Peru—and others representing a range of social impact efforts worldwide.