Fellowship Program culminates in fantastic form
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In 2015, I was afforded opportunity to partake in an international research initiative as part of the United States Eisenhower Fellowship program. As one of nine US citizens selected last year, it’s been a fantastic honor to participate in such a unique program focused on nurturing diplomacy. Seeking to foster international understanding and leadership through the exchange of information, ideas and perspectives amongst decision makers throughout the globe, the Eisenhower Fellowship program engages mid-career influencers to find commonality in each other's efforts. Unlike any other community in the world, the objective of the Eisenhower program is to deal with concerns in each generation through empowering a unified global network of leaders. During this most recent period of intensifying conflict, xenophobia and often hatred toward others for which we lack understanding if not empathy to our shared similarities - to be part of an initiative designed to embrace instead of ostracize has been nothing but enlightening.
(image above: with NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman)
Through enhancing leadership skills, broadening network of contacts, deepening global perspectives, and uniting in a diverse, global community where dialogue, understanding and collaboration lead to a more prosperous, just and peaceful world - I’m humbled to be part of this international discourse with these 1500 Eisenhower Fellows chosen from over 100 countries in the past 60 years. Today, the network is well represented by acting heads of government, cabinet-level officials, national legislators, provincial governors, university presidents, Royalty and CEOs of corporations and nonprofit organization alike - collectively serving as a pinnacle organization of global agents of change.
(image: Chairman Gen. Colin Powell presents to Dr. Deane Marchbein)
The Fellowship program centralizes around a tailored research journey which for a few months immerses you within different regions and cultures around the world to share information and gain insight. Receiving perspective more diverse and circular in nature, the original focus of my program evolved over the course of my travels. The acumen obtained from meeting with global thought-leaders has afforded me an opportunity to progress a narrative now laser focused on future food and agriculture as cornerstone for a shared OneHealth of human, animal and planetary wellbeing (more at AaronNiederhelman.com). In nuanced writings I’ve detailed my program experiences in Europe and the Middle East, each helping me develop my passion into purpose to change a false economy of cheap food. A plan to lever well-sourced food as portfolio diversification to mitigate mounting risk Stateside is our most pragmatic approach to finance the future of environmental and political stability.
Last week, my Fellowship program culminated in fantastic form. As I sat at our closing seminar listening to Eisenhower Fellowship’s Chairman Gen. Colin Powell honor Dr. Deane Marchbein, President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (Doctors without borders) with the Eisenhower Medal for leadership and Service, I was awestruck by the potential of what was next. I’ve come to realize the true opportunity is not just the ample resources provided to perform unparalleled research in your field of study, nor only the chance to immerse yourself into these distinct and wonderful cultures for weeks at a time, but what leaves me scratching my head is what can arise from this potential of being inspired by an expanding network of agents set on changing the world.
(image: with wife Mary Niederhelman at pinning ceremony in Philadelphia)
What I've taken out of my journey and through the experiences thus far is much grander than I would’ve ever imagined. During last week’s closing seminars in Philadelphia, interacting and listening to distinguished guests and other Fellows - I came to realize the real opportunity of this program has just begun. The chance to meet and to help an annual crop of US and International Eisenhower Fellows, and to contribute to bolstering a network of global change-agents over a half century in the making is simply amazing. I’m honored to partake, and even more excited to give back for decades to come.
In coming months, I’ll share a few blog posts on HuffPost describing backstories and vignettes of some of the most interesting influencers in the Eisenhower Fellowship network that I’ve met thus far. Set on making the shrinking world a safer and more equitable place for generations ahead, these are folks with unique stories to tell...