Get a jump start now by creating an account with our simple online tool.
Still have questions? Check out Admissions for details on requirements, deadlines, and financial aid.
The application for master's programs starting in autumn 2026 is open. Apply today.
The University of Chicago and the Obama Foundation introduce the 2025-2026 University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars from:
Empowering underprivileged girls in Africa to become leaders and innovators in STEM by expanding access to education, mentorship, and digital resources
Temilade Adelakun is an experienced product leader and digital transformation strategist passionate about shaping the future of innovation, building inclusive ecosystems that connect people and platforms. With experience at Google, Microsoft and high-growth startups, she has led product and innovation strategy initiatives that drive adoption, unlock access, and deliver impactful results. Temilade is committed to creating pathways for girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Nigeria. Through her volunteer work with organizations like Women in Engineering (WIE), STEMBelle and Google Women Techmakers, Temilade has mentored over 1,200 young girls through bootcamps, workshops, and hands-on projects in coding, robotics, and engineering design. As a Scholar, Temilade plans to refine her skills in partnerships and stakeholder management to scale her work through sustainable partnerships with local organizations and tech companies. Her goal is to expand the reach of her current programs to rural communities in Northern Nigeria and Ghana, reducing barriers to make STEM education accessible to all.
Empowering young people to reach their potential and thrive in the modern world through online mental health and life-planning programs
Noah Alfman is the founder of Heroes, an online platform designed to empower young adults, particularly in rural communities, to realize their potential, find purposeful paths for their lives and careers, and achieve economic mobility. Their Pathfinder program helps users identify career paths based on their values, skills, and interests and connects young people with educational opportunities and mentors in their desired field to chart a path toward meaningful employment. Having tested the platform with 200 users, Noah seeks to refine Heroes' impact model and expand its services through the Scholars program. He also hopes to apply the systems thinking curriculum to more deeply understand belief systems’ role in societal stability and human flourishing. Noah’s long-term vision is to improve social cohesion by providing spaces where young adults can form meaningful connections, develop community-oriented values, and cultivate the resilience that underpins a healthy democracy.
Tackling inequality of opportunity and multidimensional poverty in Pakistan by providing digital skills, access to capital, coaching, and community
Muhammad Hashaam Asif is the founder of Hunar Se Rozgar (HSR), a social enterprise on a mission to create an equal and equitable Pakistan that works for all Pakistanis, empowering them to realize their full potential and shape their lives on their own terms. HSR offers free online training and coaching in high-demand digital skills, opening doors to earn income from anywhere, anytime. What began as an upskilling program for women has grown into a thriving community where people from all walks of life gain marketable skills, confidence, and financial independence, enhancing economic mobility and agency. Through the Scholars program, Hashaam plans to scale HSR by piloting different funding models to make the enterprise financially self-sustaining, integrating access to capital and digital technologies, and developing structured pathways for employment and entrepreneurship—building a holistic economic empowerment ecosystem.
Reimagining cities and public spaces in Pakistan as inclusive, empowering platforms by amplifying women’s leadership and civic participation through community-driven initiatives
Safa Baig is the co-founder of HamSukhan, a nonprofit organization in Pakistan that provides a platform for youth to develop solutions for local issues. Paired with her passion for city planning, Safa led a partnership with the Islamabad city government to revive a dormant library, transforming it into a community space hosting over 60 community-inspired events with more than 1,000 participants. Through the Scholars program, Safa plans to expand HamSukhan into a city-wide initiative by deepening her understanding of how inclusive cities and public policy are developed and implemented through multi-sector models such as public-private partnerships and community-owned spaces. Her long-term vision is to extend this model to other cities in Pakistan and advocate for its adoption in local governance structures.
Equipping young leaders with the tools, networks, and confidence to drive change, empowering them to become lifelong civic participants and active stewards of democracy
Megha Battacharya is a communications professional and political strategist dedicated to deepening civic engagement and fostering robust community participation among young people. In her past roles with the Democratic National Convention, the U.S. Department of State, and the White House, Megha has seen the pervasiveness of civic apathy and disenfranchisement and now aims to address youth disengagement in civic life. While at the State Department, Megha designed a global civic engagement initiative that provided young changemakers from around the world with resources to launch voter registration drives, expand civic literacy training, and build digital platforms to demystify civic participation. As a Scholar, she aims to translate these efforts to launch an initiative on college campuses that equips students with the tools to drive civic engagement in their communities. Megha is eager to strengthen her approach to cross-sector collaboration and leverage deep civic networks to mobilize young people to engage in democracy as a lifelong habit.
Supporting high-need communities by expanding access to food and public benefits through policy, outreach, and systems-level change
Sonia Garcia is the manager of benefits outreach at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a nonprofit food bank addressing hunger through food distribution, public benefits outreach, advocacy, and community partnerships. Sonia leads the SNAP and Medicaid outreach team efforts to reduce barriers to food and healthcare access and is focused on closing the SNAP gap in Cook County, where tens of thousands of eligible individuals remain unenrolled in benefits. As she expands her leadership role, she is focused on shaping the organization's benefits outreach strategy to reduce food insecurity, and she intends to utilize the Scholars program to strengthen her systems thinking and policy expertise to refine a county-wide plan to increase SNAP participation.
Catalyzing philanthropic funding to advance climate action in Indonesia
Afgan Gradiyanto is a former management consultant and advisor in Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, working to protect future generations from climate change. In his government role, Afgan spearheaded the design and implementation of strategic programs and policies focused on climate change education across the country, reaching 60 million students, 400,000 schools, and 4,000 universities. Having made a mark in the public and private sectors, Afgan now seeks to drive climate change work through what he sees as the underutilized nonprofit and philanthropic sectors in Indonesia. Through the Scholars program, Afgan aims to learn more about the nonprofit sector and understand how to foster a philanthropic culture, reaching untapped funds to support climate action. His goal is to catalyze a broader shift in Indonesia’s approach to social impact and create a sustainable ecosystem where philanthropy, public policy, and private sector engagement empower communities and drive meaningful change.
Empowering educators and leaders to thrive through building systems that care
Levi Jenkins is an employee wellness specialist at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where he designs and executes a district-wide wellness initiative for more than 45,000 employees. As a former high school teacher born and raised in Englewood, Levi is dedicated to advancing social change in Chicago’s South and West Side communities. The employee wellness program, now entering its second year, takes a systems-wide approach to foster a cultural shift within CPS toward wellness, educator satisfaction, and educator retention, offering training and wellness resources to support the health and well-being of these employees. Through the Scholars program, Levi aims to build the case for his work among CPS’s various strategic priorities and identify innovative solutions to support intergenerational leaders at every level of the organization to create optimal learning environments for the students they serve, ultimately leading to educational success for all.
Building environmental literacy and leadership through interdisciplinary, place-based education
Juliann Krupa is an environmental educator and academic project manager at The School for Field Studies, an educational institution that offers transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. She collaborates with faculty around the world to develop interdisciplinary curricula for undergraduate field research programs that explore the ecological and social dimensions of complex environmental problems. Throughout her career designing conservation programs integrating science, policy, and education, Juliann has experienced the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive more efficient and effective decision-making on pressing issues. Juliann hopes to use the Scholars program to learn how to break the silos of traditional industry-specific approaches to environmental challenges and better foster cross-sector collaboration, bridging divides by bringing together nonprofits, businesses, and governments to deepen interdisciplinary engagement.
Empowering youth and transforming education systems through cross-sector leadership, policy innovation, and media-driven social change
Risolat Makhsimova is dedicated to advancing girls' education in her home country of Uzbekistan. As project manager at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, Risolat contributed to multiple national-level youth development initiatives, including “Ibrat Farzandlari,” Uzbekistan’s largest free language education platform. In that role, Risolat directed the production of free video lessons in over 20 languages, helping over 700,000 learners gain access to educational materials that allowed them to pursue international education and career opportunities. As a former member of Uzbekistan's Youth Parliament, Risolat also successfully advocated for the inclusion of youth rights in the Reformed Constitution of Uzbekistan in 2023, solidifying protections for youth. Through the Scholars program, Risolat aims to strengthen her skills in policy advocacy and strategic planning to launch a new mentorship program for girls in Uzbekistan, empowering them to overcome societal restrictions that limit their future opportunities.
Championing equitable kidney health through accessible kidney care outreach and education
Christian Ochoa is a veteran and current researcher at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he is committed to making the health care system work better for vulnerable populations facing end-state kidney disease. As an intern at DaVita Kidney Care, Christian led data-driven analyses and developed operational strategies to increase the rate of optimal dialysis starts for new patients, improving patient outcomes. As a Scholar, Christian is focused on identifying barriers to kidney care on Chicago’s South Side and developing outreach and education programs on kidney care modalities like home dialysis. His long-term vision is to establish an organization dedicated to connecting vulnerable populations with living donors and funding sources while also advocating for access to consistent, preventative care rather than emergency-only options.
Mobilizing innovative tools in emerging economies to support sustainable growth and opportunities for youth
Eltjana Plaku is dedicated to expanding access to quality education in Albania and empowering young people through technology. Eltjana spent five years as a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist on a vocational education project in Albania, where she co-designed and monitored data-driven interventions aimed at enhancing the quality and relevance of skills development. In 2015, she co-founded Gjimnazistet.al, a free online platform providing math and physics content to Albanian high school students preparing for national exams, enabling access to learning resources for over 1,200 students who couldn't afford private tutoring. Building on the experience and insights gained from this project, Eltjana now aims to explore new, innovative ways to expand access to digital learning, potentially focusing on primary education. She hopes to use the Scholars program to refine this vision and develop a sustainable, future-oriented initiative that offers inclusive, accessible, and relevant education, empowering young learners to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Bringing community voices into government processes and decision-making to drive equitable, community-led solutions
Jessica Perez is Manager of Partnerships and Community Impact at Results for America, a nonprofit helping local, state, and federal government leaders deliver more effective results for communities across America. Jessica develops programs, partnerships, and data-driven strategies that center community members' voices in local government processes, elevating their influence on issues most affecting them. Building on her current work and her 11 years of experience in social policy in Washington, DC, Jessica is developing a technical assistance training program for local governments to better incorporate communities in their decision-making processes. Through the Scholars program, Jessica aims to explore more effective ways to engage local governments around this training program and to refine her framework for designing community-centered policies. In the long term, she hopes to see more community members see clearer paths to leadership roles in local government.
Expanding equitable access to public service careers by building pathways to civic-focused opportunities
Hira Qureshi is a former senior advisor in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she led initiatives in operational excellence, focusing on recruitment, onboarding, and employee retention. With nearly a decade of experience in federal consulting, campaign operations, and public service, Hira is passionate about expanding equitable access to civic-focused careers. As a Scholar, Hira aims to leverage her experience to establish a comprehensive pipeline and mentorship program for students in Chicago to pursue careers in public service. This initiative will connect students from varied backgrounds with opportunities in federal and local government, nonprofit, and policy organizations, with the long-term vision of expanding this model nationwide to institutionalize equitable hiring practices in government spaces.
Transforming access to leadership for women and youth through inclusive public policy and community-led education programs
Carmen Rozas Olivera is a public policy consultant and social entrepreneur dedicated to strengthening democracy in Peru by increasing women’s visibility and effectiveness in policy leadership. As the founder of the Cusco Mentorship Program, she leads a virtual initiative that connects high school students in Cusco with mentorship opportunities, expanding their academic and professional horizons. She also serves as project leader at Hacedoras, an NGO that equips women with the leadership skills needed to thrive in public policy spaces. Building on these experiences and her work in the Peruvian government, Carmen aims to leverage the Scholars program to expand Hacedoras’ reach and impact. Her vision is to mobilize resources and design sustainable pathways that bring women and underserved youth to the center of public decision-making and community development in Peru.
Expanding access to global education and civic leadership across Africa and the African diaspora through mentorship, policy exposure, and cross-sector partnerships
Opeyemi Sunmola is the co-founder and director of LANE (Light Africa Network), an organization dedicated to increasing access to graduate education and leadership opportunities for young professionals across Africa and the African diaspora. LANE provides comprehensive support to help promising students pursue global leadership roles in business and policy through hands-on bootcamps, mentorship programs, regional networking events, and test prep scholarships. Ope has helped scale the organization to support over 2,300 Black and African graduate school applicants, with more than 70% securing funding for top-100 programs globally. He also led the development of LANE’s mentorship model, facilitating over 150 structured mentor-mentee engagements and expanding the network’s reach to 25+ countries. Opeyemi's current focus is on institutionalizing LANE’s impact, building long-term systems and partnerships that ensure underrepresented talent not only gains access to global graduate programs, but is positioned to thrive and lead at the highest levels in business and policy.
Building a pipeline of innovative local leaders and solutions that foster sustainable, inclusive growth in underserved communities
Prabha Upreti is the founder of Aakar Nepal, an organization that empowers under-resourced high school students with crucial leadership skills and supportive networks for personal growth, economic mobility, and social progress. Aakar Nepal's three-month fellowship program offers hands-on community projects, workshops on leadership and project management, and one-on-one mentorship, fostering holistic development to address the critical gaps in career readiness and entrepreneurial skills needed for students in Nepal. By engaging young people as they start to shape their identities and participate in civic life, Aakar helps create the mindsets and skills needed for long-term grassroots led change. To date, they have graduated 70 fellows, whose projects have impacted over 3,000 people in their communities. Through the Scholars program, Prabha plans to scale Aakar Nepal's impact by formalizing partnerships with key stakeholders, learning from global initiatives, and refining her organization's approach through insights from civic leaders. Her long-term goal is to embed Aakar's model within broader talent development and innovation initiatives, creating sustainable and scalable solutions driving social change and community resilience in Nepal.
Organizing tenants to build community and power to achieve more affordable housing
Julia Wiener is committed to ensuring safe and affordable housing for everyone, particularly survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Julia’s experience in direct service and community organizing revealed a shortage of safe housing options for survivors, often forcing them to return to unsafe environments and deepening existing economic inequities. Alongside this work, Julia began tenant union organizing and mutual aid organizing, where they worked with neighbors to build power and community, pooling together resources to keep one another safe. As a Scholar, Julia plans to strengthen their skills in partnership building, connecting with civic practitioners and housing organizers, and learning from diverse approaches to strengthen their advocacy for tenant rights and affordable housing policy. Their long-term goal is to empower tenants through policy advocacy, ultimately bridging successful organizing efforts from different cities to create more equitable housing landscapes across the U.S.