Dear Friends of ISD,
The beginning of this semester marked a milestone for ISD, as the first ever cohort of the McHenry Fellowship program began master's studies across the School of Foreign Service. The fellowship provides a full-tuition scholarship to exceptionally qualified graduate students who are committed to careers in transformational global public service, and we are pleased to introduce a stellar cohort of inaugural fellows.
We are grateful to Ambassador Donald F. McHenry for his vision and his generous support of the program, and to the program director, Ambassador James I. Gadsden, for moving this vision to reality in less than a year. This extraordinary cohort of inaugural fellows, of future global service leaders, will add immeasurably to ISD's mission to encourage, actively support, and prepare those who are committed to tackling the seemingly intractable challenges we will collectively have to confront going forward.
We invite you to learn more about our McHenry Fellows through their profiles below.
Fareeda Abdulkareem
Master's in Global Human DevelopmentFareeda Abdulkareem is a Master's Candidate at the Global Human Development Program. Her experience covers public service in northern Nigeria and grassroots development in Uganda, in addition to being a published writer across notable global platforms.
Luka Ignac
Master of Arts in German and European StudiesLuka Ignac currently serves as European Horizons’ Liaison to Germany’s European Council Presidency in Berlin. Previously, he interned at the Croatian Embassy in Washington D.C., at the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, and at Center for comparative and political science at the UCLouvain.
Emily Linn
Master's in Global Human DevelopmentEmily Crane Linn is pursuing a certificate in refugees and humanitarian emergencies. Previously, she served as the founding director of Canopy of Northwest Arkansas, a refugee resettlement agency, and as a freelance journalist in Cairo, covering the aftermath of the Arab Spring and the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean region.
Genesis Torres-Alcantara
Master of Arts in Latin American StudiesGenesis Torres-Alcantara is a first-year student in the Masters in Latin American Studies program. Prior to Georgetown, she served as an AmeriCorps fellow for two years at Cornelia Connelly Center (CCC), an educational non-profit that serves at-risk girls. She is passionate about indigenous rights, women’s rights, and educational access for young girls in Latin America.
Heemin Yang
Master of Science in Foreign ServiceHeemin Yang is an MSFS candidate concentrating in global politics and security. Prior to Georgetown, Heemin served in the 31 Airborne Infantry Battalion in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps where he monitored the inter-Korean border and facilitated large-scale ROK-US combined military exercises. Following his military service, he led a rescue team in Southeast Asia, helping North Korean defectors reach freedom.