March 01, 2022

The University of Chicago and the Obama Foundation are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of the University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program and will be accepted through March 27.

The newest cohort of UChicago Obama Scholars will bring together emerging leaders from across the UChicago campus who are current students in their final year of study in a master’s program at the Booth School of Business, Harris School of Public Policy, or Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Throughout the program, UChicago Obama Scholars will have access to robust supplemental programming through the Obama Foundation to complement the final year of their core degree requirements within their respective schools.

The program is designed to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective and impactful across their global communities. Made up of several students from each of the three schools, the program will supplement the Scholars’ rigorous UChicago studies with innovative co-curricular programming, engage with community partners on the South Side of Chicago, and apply those experiences in Chicago and beyond.

Once in the program, Scholars will draw insights directly from UChicago faculty, researchers, and esteemed guests, including diplomats, policymakers, and activists; gain skills in leadership and personal resilience, and build connections between program cohorts and among civic and community leaders. Scholars come into the program at breakthrough points in their leadership journeys and leave the program prepared to address complex social challenges in their community and committed to continuing along their path of service.

“The UChicago Obama Scholars brings together an interdisciplinary group of UChicago students looking to work in the not-for-profit, government, and private sectors, and empowers them with the unique skillset, strong connections, and compelling stories they need to tackle the most pressing issues facing our communities today,” said Christopher Blattman, Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies and the faculty director of the program. “I look forward to seeing what the next class of UChicago students can bring to this program.”

“If you have a passion, you’re not going to be satisfied if you’re not focusing on social impact,” said Isabel Rodriguez Garcia, a Scholar from the Booth School of Business. “I needed my life to revolve around social impact, and the University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program connected me to the people, ideas, and environment to bring my work to the next level.”

The program deepens the focus on urban challenges facing the South Side, Chicago, and communities around the world while also supporting a set of emerging leaders across several graduate schools on campus, with future careers spanning government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises.

“The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program has equipped me with skills to help advance my work on the South Side of Chicago,” said Demeatreas Whatley, a Scholar from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. “It has helped me to create and share my story and taught me how to be more effective in community organizing."

Members of last year’s cohort worked to address a wide range of challenges and issue areas, including interrupting violence on the West Side of Chicago, developing community-based entrepreneurs in India and Pakistan, bringing mental health counseling services to local public schools, supporting workforce development efforts in the Philippines, and launching a South Side theater program to amplify underrepresented voices. 

"The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program gave me an opportunity to see the work of local leaders, change-makers across the city along side of Scholars from across the world,” said Grace Oxley, a Scholar from the Harris School of Public Policy. “I plan to work in Chicago  after graduation, and there's a lot of really dynamic, community focused solutions that people are already driving towards, really rich knowledge that people are generating, that I now have access to, to learn from and collaborate with.”

The program builds on the Obama Scholars pilot program established in 2018 in partnership with the Harris School of Public Policy. For more information on the application process, please visit our website. A list of the 2021-2022 cohort of Scholars is available here.

Students interested in applying can join us for an info session on March 11 to meet current scholars and learn more about the program and application process. Students can also contact Adrian Talbott, Assistant Dean for Civic Engagement at the Crown Family School, and executive director of the program. The upcoming cohort will be announced in August.