Hello Graduate Fellows of 2012 from DC!

Greetings fellow fellows! My name is Rehana and I’m currently a MPP student at American University.  I am conducting my fellowship here in DC at the Council of Women World Leaders, which has been a fantastic experience so far! The Council is currently still in the transitioning process from the Aspen Institute to the Wilson Center.  It’s a really great time to be here, with so many great plans and events on the horizon. I also have the added perk of being able to attend events all around DC that concern women’s leadership issues, as well as other events that are of particular interest to me. Needless to say, as a Chicago native, I’m definitely enjoying my first full summer in the District.

There have definitely been some highlights in just my first month. During a book launch co-sponsored by the Council and the Africa Program, I got to meet and listen to Liberia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Olubanke King-Akerele speak about her new book, Women’s Leadership in Post-Conflict Liberia: My Journey, which is now on my reading list (and should be on yours, too!). The special keynote address was given by the ever inspirational President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf via live videoconferencing (cheers to technology!).  A lot of what King-Akerele spoke to was capacity building and succession planning, where she placed a heavy emphasis on preparing the next generation of public servants.  It feels good to know that current leaders recognize the importance of teaching and empowering our generation to continue great work as women leaders in our respective fields. 

Other highlights include meeting President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga when she stopped in to speak with our Director, Congresswoman Jane Harman.  I also just met with Rangita de Silva-de Alwis who hails from Wellesley College’s Centers for Women and is taking on a leading role here at the Wilson Center as Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative Council, which encompasses both the Council of Women World Leaders and the Center’s new Women in Public Service Project.  So yes, there is a lot going on here and I’m excited to be a part of it!

I hope you all are doing well around the world and am very excited to read about your fellowship experiences this summer!