WASHINGTON – Fifty Howard University students were selected for the 2021 cohort of the Clinton Global Initiative University. The partnership with Howard University and Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) will provide students with a year-round program that will support them as they develop into impactful social entrepreneurs and leaders.

“At Howard University, we train students to shift the focus from their major to their mission because it is much more important that they discover their purpose in life,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The Clinton Global Initiative University perfectly aligns with that vision and our motto of ‘truth and service.’ I look forward to our students interacting with these dynamic thought-leaders and like-minded individuals as they embark on this invaluable journey.”

The 50 undergraduate and graduate students will receive training, mentorship, and access to international experts and changemakers in their respective interests as well as networking activities.

“Howard students’ participation in CGI U is a natural outgrowth of their commitment to service. The opportunity to connect with other like-minded students around the world, all of whom have identified ways they can take a specific action to meet the demands of the communities they hope to help improve, is a unique one that we are happy to support,” said Dana Williams, Ph.D., interim dean of the Howard University Graduate School.

President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton first announced Howard University would serve as the virtual host campus in October 2020 as part of the university's Homecoming program.

“We are thrilled to have this esteemed group of Howard University students join our community of commitment-makers taking action to address the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Nicole Reichenbach, deputy director of programs at CGI U. “We look forward to engaging with them in our year-long programming that includes virtual events with global leaders, mentorship programs, sponsorship opportunities and an enhanced Commitment to Action curriculum.”

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that comprises 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, public relations manager, imani.popejohns@howard.edu

About the Clinton Foundation

Building on a lifetime of public service, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation on the simple belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, everyone has a responsibility to act, and we all do better when we work together. For nearly two decades, those values have energized the work of the Foundation in overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world.

As an operating foundation, we work on issues directly or with strategic partners from the business, government and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunity, improve public health and inspire civic engagement and service. Our programs are designed to make a real difference today while serving as proven models for tomorrow. The goal of every effort is to use available resources to get better results faster – at the lowest possible cost. We firmly believe that when diverse groups of people bring resources together in the spirit of true cooperation, transformative ideas will emerge to drive life-changing action. Learn more at https://www.clintonfoundation.org/, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ClintonFoundation, and on Twitter @ClintonFdn.