The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:
In a visit to Morehouse College on November 1, Administrator Power celebrated a new partnership with Morehouse College’s Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership, part of USAID’s commitment to diversifying the international development field to better address global challenges.
During her visit, Administrator Power and Morehouse President David A. Thomas formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding under USAID’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Partnerships Initiative. This five-year initiative benefits both institutions by promoting internships, fellowships, mentorship opportunities, and training pathways for university students to pursue careers with the Foreign Service, USAID, and in international development more broadly, while providing USAID with an avenue for research collaboration and workforce development. The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership will partner directly with USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization. This fifth partnership under the MSI Initiative marks another step taken by the Agency to open new pathways to careers at USAID, and help make USAID a more diverse, inclusive, equitable place to work.
During her remarks, Administrator Power affirmed USAID’s commitment to building an Agency where new generations have the opportunity to pursue work that creates a more just and peaceful world. Administrator Power highlighted Morehouse’s national leadership on fighting climate change and advancing environmental justice, as well as the generations of Morehouse students and graduates who have made a significant impact through public service and leadership on issues of national and international importance .
Following the signing ceremony, Administrator Power took a tour of Morehouse’s historic campus. The Administrator then had lunch with students to discuss career pathways in international development, current global challenges like crackdowns on freedom of speech and combating misinformation, and the critical importance of representing the diversity of America in USAID’s workforce.