Eisenhower Fellowships Announced the 11 American Leaders Selected for the 2018 Program

With the help of steering committees across the United States, Eisenhower Fellowships selected the 11 American Fellows for 2018. And I’m thrilled to report I’m one of them! That’s right, I am very proud that I have been chosen as a 2018 United States Eisenhower Fellow. I will focus my efforts in the program on using quantum computing to combat something that effects every single species on our planet.

So What Are the Eisenhower Fellowships, Anyway?

Here’s what Eisenhower Fellowships has to say about the U.S. program:

“Since 1989, Eisenhower Fellowships have sent nearly 300 U.S. citizens and permanent residents abroad. The USA Fellowship provides proven mid-career leaders with a customized four- or five-week professional experience in one or two countries in the EF network, as well as lifetime membership in a global community of fellows. Fellows hail from all professional fields and represent the private, public and nonprofit sectors. USA Fellows are recruited on a national basis, with local Steering Committees helping nominate and interview candidates in four regional hubs: Boston, Raleigh-Durham, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. However, by the end of 2017, [Eisenhower Fellowships] expects to expand the network to include two additional hubs in Los Angeles and Miami. On fellowship, USA Fellows meet with leaders in their fields who can help them achieve their program goals, including many international Eisenhower Fellows. These interactions push Fellows to look beyond the day-to-day of their professional lives; to broaden and enhance their global perspective and partnerships; and to have a greater impact in their home region and professional sphere.”

The 2018 Fellows

Let me congratulate the other 10 Fellows who will be joining me on this adventure:

Sonya Anderson , Senior Vice President for Storytelling and Development, Leading Educators (Chicago, IL)

, Senior Vice President for Storytelling and Development, Leading Educators (Chicago, IL) Kim Brackett , Owner/Operator, Brackett Ranches Ltd. Partnership (Homedale, ID)

, Owner/Operator, Brackett Ranches Ltd. Partnership (Homedale, ID) Jennifer Cohen, Director of Government Affairs, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (Los Angeles, CA)

Director of Government Affairs, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (Los Angeles, CA) Dr. Brian Englander , Chairman, Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania Hospital (Philadelphia, PA)

, Chairman, Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) Andwele Jolly , Business Director, Clinical Affairs, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

, Business Director, Clinical Affairs, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) Matthew Kopac , Sustainable Business and Innovation Manager, Burt’s Bees (Durham, NC)

, Sustainable Business and Innovation Manager, Burt’s Bees (Durham, NC) Jay Kothari , Project Lead, Glass, Google X (San Francisco, CA)

, Project Lead, Glass, Google X (San Francisco, CA) Meredith Rapkin , Executive Director, Friends of Farmworkers (Philadelphia, PA)

, Executive Director, Friends of Farmworkers (Philadelphia, PA) Beaudean Seil , Managing Partner, Patamar Capital (San Francisco, CA)

, Managing Partner, Patamar Capital (San Francisco, CA) Christopher Sherman, President, Island Creek Oysters (Duxbury, MA)

What Exactly Will I Be Working On?

Well, outside of the massive hint I dropped above, I don’t want to say until I announce my project at SXSW 2018. The timing works out perfectly. My fellowship experience begins in April at an opening seminar with the 2018 Global Fellows. The program will support my efforts by aligning me with leaders in quantum computing and physics who can help me achieve my program goals, while I broaden and enhance their global perspective and partnerships. How freakin’ cool is that? I can’t wait to get started. More to come!