News and Insights

2025 class of Presidential Leadership Scholars announced as program celebrates 10th anniversary

January 15, 2025

Tenth annual class comprised of 57 accomplished leaders including educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia Jan. 15, 2025 – Today, the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program announced the 57 Scholars who will form the program’s 10th annual class. For the past decade, PLS has brought together more […]

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Featured

Presidential Leadership Scholars Featured in Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants

President George W. Bush’s new book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, features 43 four-color oil portraits of individuals who exemplify our proud history as a nation of immigrants. Nine of those portraits are of the following Presidential Leadership Scholars: Mark Haidar, Class of 2019 Sumera Haque, Class of 2019 Alfia Ilicheva, Class […]

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Featured

#ThisIsOurShot – Behind the Scenes on the Strategerist Podcast

March 30, 2021 | Sunny Jha (‘18), | Jay Bhatt (‘16) and | Loren Robinson (‘18)

Presidential Leadership Scholars Dr. Sunny Jha, Dr. Loren Robinson, and Dr. Jay Bhatt are on the front lines in their communities in the fight against COVID-19 — but thanks to vaccines that are now available, see a light at the end of the tunnel. They recently spoke to the George W. Bush Center’s Andrew Kaufmann […]

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News

How to find hope in dark times

February 3, 2021 | Virginia Buckingham (‘15)

Presidential Leadership Scholar Virginia Buckingham speaks to lessons in resilience from the forefront of 9/11. Read more in The Hill: https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/498032-how-to-find-hope-in-dark-times?fbclid=IwAR2J6zL4wddqvIEwU2EJdtt_h8ThQYmTFS7DwlWHVVJ0V7R2utECgc7Wwcw

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News

It takes a community to help overcome vaccine hesitancy: OPINION

February 1, 2021 | Jay Bhatt (‘16) and | Kavita Patel (‘15)

Presidential Leadership Scholars Dr. Jay Bhatt and Dr. Kavita Patel recently wrote an opinion piece for ABC News on overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/takes-community-overcome-vaccine-hesitancy-opinion/story?id=75403505&fbclid=IwAR36nOLg6Q581CcPhwf3_o1asrrVW2G_vnliSRwVXbQ6MSD1rf9ESZKVJzo

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Insights

Free education for essential workers in Michigan is expanding into a pathway toward a four-year degree

December 3, 2020

Class of 2016’s Russ Kavalhuna recently spoke to CNN about how Henry Ford College is putting the education of front line workers first. Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/us/free-tuition-for-michigan-essential-workers-expands-trnd/index.html

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Insights

Scholar Spotlight: Q&A with Brent Taylor

October 7, 2020 | Brent Taylor (‘16)

Brent, please give us an update on what you have been working on since graduating from PLS in 2016. During the past four years, I have the privilege to wear diverse hats that enable me to apply the leadership lessons of PLS in many settings. As a pastor, I walked with our church through a […]

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News

The Root 100’s list of the most influential African Americans

September 23, 2020 | Rob Gore (‘18)

Recently, Class of 2018’s Rob Gore was named as one of The Root 100’s most influential African Americans. Check it out: https://interactives.theroot.com/root-100-2020/

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News

100 inspiring Hispanic/Latinx scientists in America

September 18, 2020 | Ricardo Correa Marquez (‘19)

Recently, Cell Press journal published 100 Hispanic/Latinx scientist in America. Class of 2019’s Ricardo Correa made the list – Take a Look: http://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/100-inspiring-hispanic-latinx-scientists-in-america

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News

Online platform connects teens and senior to form unlikely friendships

August 31, 2020 | Michael Hole (‘19)

Class of 2019’s Michael Hole and his team at the Dell Medical School recently launched the “Big & Mini” match program, which pairs seniors and teens to bridge generations and combat loneliness in COVID-19. Check out their highlight on the Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/online-platform-connects-teens-and-senior-to-form-unlikely-friendships-88225861525?fbclid=IwAR1vNe8RTpTPxqZPukorJq8rwzCH0Vr6hup2MQwajDJvykmWeucAYc4d3Rw

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News

Pizza Hut Appoints First-Ever Chief Equity Officer

August 20, 2020 | Chequan Lewis (‘18)

Class of 2018’s Chequan Lewis, who formerly oversaw Pizza Hut’s domestic Express chain, was recently appointed as their first ever Chief Equity Officer. Learn more via Ad Week: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/pizza-hut-appoints-first-ever-chief-equity-officer/?fbclid=IwAR2CZ55ADUmucqw_BoOZH-jKtcYHYOVqV62ngpR2P4OQ1Z76HAFiKv-eEYE

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