Forty promising young women from all over the world are spending the month of January learning to become effective global leaders. Julia Wucherpfennig, a senior Biological Sciences major from Brookline, Mass., is among the select group of Wellesley College juniors and seniors participating in The Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs at Wellesley College.
"We are witnessing a generational change in the American political scene," said Madeleine Korbel Albright, a member of the Wellesley College class of 1959, at the launch of the first Institute in 2010. "This is the right time-and Wellesley is the right place-to help train a whole new group of young women leaders."
The Albright Institute is an intensive, three-week course held during the month of January. Albright Fellows learn from the expertise and perspectives of faculty and thought leaders who represent a wide variety of fields including environmental science, sociology, political science, and economics. Drawing from what they learn during the expert presentations and from their own multidisciplinary studies at Wellesley, the Fellows team-up in groups to develop and propose innovative solutions to world problems. In the final week of the program, Fellows present their proposals to the institute's faculty for critique and analysis. Some of the topics to be presented this year include:
"Making available the funds required to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, cholera, malaria and tuberculosis;"
"Promoting food availability and affordability;" and, "Pursuing excellence in education at all levels with a focus on ensuring gender parity."
This summer, each Fellow will have the opportunity to further apply what she has learned by participating in a global affairs internship in the United States or abroad.
This year's Albright Fellows Class comprises 28 juniors and 13 seniors; 27 of whom are US citizens (some with dual citizenship) and 14 international students representing 22 countries including: Albania, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Lebanon, Moldova, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Tibet, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe.
PG-13
