Announcing the Second Cohort of Frederick Douglass Global Fellows!

Philadelphia, Pa., November 9, 2017— The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) in partnership with the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions(CMSI) and the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives is proud to announce the second cohort of students for the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship (FDGF) Program:

• Chiagoziem Agu, Albany State University
• Joshua Blackwell, North Carolina A&T University
• Andres Colmenares, Miami Dade College
• Carmen E. Crusoe, Howard University
• Darielis Cruz, Mercy College
• Juan Jose Duran, California State University, San Marcos 
• Kloe Harris, Lincoln University, Missouri
• Malena Her, California State University, Sacramento
• DeVon Jackson, Virginia State University
• Jorian Reeves, Xavier University of Louisiana 

FDGF is part of a three-year strategic partnership between CIEE and CMSI, designed to break down the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture to make study abroad accessible to students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellows (FDGFs) were nominated by their college presidents and selected from a large pool of applicants in a national competition. These fellows are meritorious individuals who demonstrate high academic achievement, possess exemplary communication skills, display the hallmarks of self-determination, exhibit characteristics of bold leadership, and have a history of service to others.
 
“We are thrilled to join CIEE in giving the opportunity to MSI students who want to study abroad. The experience is life-changing for everyone involved,” said Marybeth Gasman, professor, and Director of CMSI.
 
FDGFs will use their experiences to motivate other under-represented students to pursue similar opportunities. The program draws on the legacy of Frederick Douglass—the African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and international statesman who lived, lectured and studied in London in 1845—and encourages students to use his life as a model to becoming bold, globally conscious and service-oriented leaders.
 
Nettie Washington Douglass, chairwoman and co-founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, shares, “We are excited to participate in the development of leaders that are taught the value of intercultural awareness and molded to be change agents in their communities like our great ancestor, Frederick Douglass.”

This year's cohort of 10 students will participate in a four-week summer study abroad program designed to enhance their leadership and intercultural skills in Cape Town, South Africa. FDGF covers all program fees and travel costs for 10 students each year who are selected from a diverse group of MSIs. The fellowship is awarded based on a combination of personal leadership attributes, academic achievement, and financial need. The next cohort of FDGFs will study in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (summer 2019).
 
James P. Pellow, President, and CEO of CIEE explained, “The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship Program allows for both CIEE and CMSI to intentionally curate intercultural programming for MSI students. We are proud to assist in the development of a global perspective for the next generation of leaders.”
 
For more information, read more about the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship program here. For more information about the individual fellows or to speak with them, please contact Paola 'Lola' Esmieu, Associate Director for Programs at CMSI. 
 
Please join us in congratulating these amazing students!
 
About the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions
The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions brings together researchers and practitioners from the nation's Minority Serving Institutions. CMSI’s goals include: elevating the educational contributions of MSIs; ensuring that they are a part of national conversations; bringing awareness to the vital role MSIs play in the nation’s economic development; increasing the rigorous scholarship of MSIs; connecting MSIs’ academic and administrative leadership to promote reform initiatives; and strengthening efforts to close educational achievement gaps among disadvantaged communities. Visit www.gse.upenn.edu/cmsi.
 
About the Council on International Educational Exchange
CIEE was founded in 1947 to facilitate international exchange programs that help foster peace and understanding in our world and to open doors to such programs for students from all socio-economic backgrounds.  Today, CIEE serves more than 400 U.S. colleges and universities, 1,000 U.S. high schools, and facilitates over 40,000 exchanges each year. CIEE serves as the leading sponsor for the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program (the J-1 visa program), promoting exchanges with over 100 countries. Additional CIEE programs include international faculty training, teach abroad, and various specialty and custom programs for secondary, post-secondary, and international students. Visit www.ciee.org.