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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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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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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Insights

An Urgent Invitation to The Movies

August 13, 2020

PLS Class of 2015 Scholar Holly Gordon provides a list of movie recommendations to her fellow Scholars on the topic of democracy, race, and justice. As the Chief Impact Officer at Participant, a film production company in Los Angeles, I often describe my job as not making our movies, but making our movies make a […]

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News

Real Reform Comes From Civic Stamina

August 4, 2020

Recently, PLS Class of 2020-2021 Scholar Sloane Davidson’s PLP Hello Neighbor won a Renewal Award from The Atlantic and Allstate from over 13,000 applicants. Learn more: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/07/2020-renewal-award-winners-profiles/614125/

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Revitalized by summer protests, Dallas’ inequity programs fight through pandemic’s ‘gut punch’

July 27, 2020 | Byron Sanders (‘17)

Class of 2017’s Byron Sanders was recently highlighted by the Dallas Morning News about his nonprofit, Big Thought. Read the article: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2020/07/24/revitalized-by-summer-protests-dallas-inequity-programs-fight-through-pandemics-gut-punch/

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Good Apple helping keep Austin fed and healthy amid coronavirus pandemic

July 20, 2020

Class of 2019’s Michael Hole recently spoke to CBS Austin about Good Apple – a doctor-prescribed grocery delivery service fighting hunger, which during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped people stay healthy in their homes. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/good-apple-helping-keep-austin-fed-and-healthy-amid-coronavirus-pandemic Read more about Michael’s role with Good Apple: https://www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org/notes-from-the-field-qa-with-michael-hole/

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