Hansen Leadership Institute

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Hansen Leadership Institute

This life-changing leadership program allows participants to study together, work together, and develop friendships to last a lifetime.

06/09/2026

✨ Meet Juana 🇦🇷

Juana is an Argentine leader passionate about public policy, social innovation & democratic participation. She holds a degree in International Relations from Torcuato Di Tella University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at Sciences Po Paris, specializing in Social Policy and Innovation.

🌍 Her work spans public policy, political engagement, and advocacy for underrepresented communities. She has gained experience as a policy analyst, worked at the German Parliament through the prestigious Internationales Parlaments-Stipendium (IPS) program, and contributed to initiatives that encourage youth political participation across Europe.

She is actively involved in organizations supporting refugees, expanding access to higher education, and strengthening civic engagement through digital innovation. As a Content Leader at Palumba EU, she helped develop tools designed to inform and empower young voters during major European elections.

✨ Through her academic, professional, and volunteer work, Juana is committed to building more inclusive societies and creating opportunities for meaningful participation in public life.

06/05/2026

✨ Meet Mariami 🇬🇪

is a Georgian leader passionate about youth empowerment, media literacy & digital transformation. She believes education is one of the most powerful tools to bridge divides, strengthen critical thinking, and build more informed communities.
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Media Psychology and Communications at Tbilisi State University, she also serves as a Teaching Assistant at the Free University of Tbilisi. Her work focuses on combating disinformation, promoting digital literacy, and empowering young people through education.

🌍 As a Content Manager for 22 Gradusi, Mariami creates engaging educational content for teenagers and is actively researching the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence among university students. Through innovative projects, research, and youth initiatives, she is helping build a more resilient and informed society.

✨ For Mariami, the Hansen Leadership Institute is an opportunity to gain new perspectives, build meaningful connections, and continue her journey as a future leader in education, digital literacy & strategic communications.

06/04/2026

✨ Meet Matheus Motta 🇧🇷

Matheus is a Brazilian researcher and advocate passionate about democracy, migration & social justice. He holds a Master’s degree in International Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, where he also completed his undergraduate studies specializing in politics and international relations.

As a former recipient of the Japanese Government’s MEXT Scholarship and an alumnus of the Tsuji International Scholarship Foundation, Matheus has dedicated his academic work to understanding the dynamics of transnational politics. His research focuses on the Brazilian diaspora, exploring the intersections of electoral politics, migration, media, religion & democratic backsliding.

🌍 Born and raised in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Matheus brings lived experience to his commitment to equity and inclusion. His journey has inspired him to work with NGOs advocating for the rights of socioeconomically marginalized communities in Brazil and beyond.

Through both research and community engagement, Matheus seeks to amplify underrepresented voices and contribute to more inclusive democratic processes around the world. ✨

06/01/2026

✨ Meet Mercy Nanetia Langas 🇰🇪

Mercy is a medical student in Orthopaedics and Trauma Medicine passionate about advancing equity, human rights & social change through healthcare. Her journey in medicine is guided by the belief that health systems should be inclusive, responsive, and rooted in the realities of the communities they serve.

Her work focuses on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), where she advocates for breaking down barriers that prevent young people and marginalized communities from accessing accurate information and essential services.

🌍 Beyond healthcare, Mercy is actively engaged in climate justice initiatives with the Deaf community, championing meaningful disability inclusion in environmental advocacy and decision-making spaces where these perspectives are often overlooked.

By connecting healthcare, disability inclusion, climate action & human rights, Mercy works to build a more equitable future through youth-led collaboration and community-centered leadership.

✨ She believes leadership is about listening, building bridges across communities, and creating space for voices that are too often excluded from global conversations.

05/28/2026

✨ Meet Eastwood Yeboah 🌍

Eastwood is an advocate passionate about global mental health, public service & social justice. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Union College with a degree in Psychology and Africana Studies, where he also designed his own minor in Global Mental Health Parity through the Scholars Program.

Driven by a deep commitment to advocacy and equity, Eastwood continuously seeks opportunities to advance conversations around mental health and reduce stigma across communities. His dedication to service and leadership has earned him recognition through highly competitive programs, including the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, and the Essential Visionaries Fund.

🌍 In Fall 2025, Eastwood began pursuing a Master of Science in Global Health at expanding his work at the intersection of health, policy & international impact.

Passionate about creating meaningful change, Eastwood aspires to build a career focused on destigmatizing mental health on a global scale and ensuring more inclusive access to care and support worldwide. ✨

05/26/2026

✨ Meet Tanfia Khan Disha 🇧🇩

Tanfia is a Bangladeshi leader passionate about the intersection of science, education & healthcare. As a first-generation woman in STEM, her journey reflects resilience, curiosity, and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for underserved communities.

She is currently a fellow of the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where she contributes to a youth-led project in partnership with Huawei.

🌍 A Duke of Edinburgh International Gold Award recipient and Erasmus+ exchange alumna, Tanfia has been recognized for her leadership, service & global engagement. She is also making history as the first Bangladeshi woman selected for the HLI, inspiring more young women in her country to pursue leadership on the international stage.

Academically, she is a biotechnology major with interests in public health, edtech & science communication. She also serves as President of the IUB Debate Club (IUBDC), fostering dialogue, critical thinking & youth leadership.

📚 Outside of her work, Tanfia enjoys reading about history, culture & international relations, always seeking new perspectives to better understand the world and contribute to meaningful change. ✨

05/22/2026

✨ Meet Yelyzaveta Shelestova 🇺🇦

Yelyzaveta is a Ukrainian educator, Teach For Ukraine fellow, and aspiring education policy leader passionate about the intersection of education, international relations & post-war recovery. A recent graduate in International Relations from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, she is dedicated to building more equitable and resilient education systems.

As a Teach For Ukraine fellow, she teaches English and Arts to nearly 200 high school students in a rural community in the Kyiv region affected by war.

Yelyzaveta worked with civil society organizations supporting education, media, women’s empowerment & democratic resilience in Ukraine. She also represented student voices globally as a Student Advisor at Teach For All, contributing to international conversations on educational equity.

🌍 Her vision is to bring her classroom and civil society experience into international education policy, especially in the areas of educational equity and education in emergencies.

Passionate about debate, music, art, history & intercultural learning, Yelyzaveta believes education can be a powerful force for recovery, resilience, and peace. ✨

05/20/2026

✨ Meet Arich Monchez 🇸🇻

is an emerging Salvadoran leader passionate about migration, climate action & historical memory. He holds a degree in International Relations and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Human Mobility, focusing on creating and promoting safe and regular migration pathways.

🌎 He currently serves as Focal Point for Latin America & the Caribbean at the Global Youth Coalition, co-leading dialogue spaces for children and youth, and is also part of Global Shapers San Salvador Hub, contributing to community transformation initiatives.

🏆 Recognized as an Emerging Leader in Central America, Arich is also the first fellow from El Salvador in the history of the program, paving the way for future generations of Salvadoran changemakers.

Passionate about writing, art, music & dialogue as tools for transformation, Arich believes leadership begins with empathy, connection, and collective action. ✨

05/14/2026

✨ Meet Tracy Loza Maldonado 🇧🇴

Mechatronics Engineer from Tarija, Bolivia, passionate about the intersection of technology, women’s leadership & social innovation. A full-scholarship graduate and top of her class, Tracy is the founder of NextGen Digital Pioneers, an initiative empowering young women through digital skills, leadership, data & content creation.

Through NextGen, has impacted 6 countries across Latin America and supported the training of +250 women, helping them strengthen their confidence, voice, and professional growth. Overall, Tracy has contributed to training more than 1,200 young people and leading learning spaces for +500 participants.

🚀 She is also the first fellow from Bolivia in the history of the program, opening doors for more young women and leaders from her country.

Her mission: to create a multiplier effect across Latin America through education, technology & women’s leadership. 💫

05/12/2026

A world connected by purpose 🌍✨

From every corner of the map, this year’s fellows come together with different stories, cultures, and dreams — but one shared commitment: building a more peaceful, compassionate, and connected future.

Meet the Hansen 2026 Fellows: young leaders, bridge-builders, advocates, and changemakers ready to learn from one another and create impact far beyond borders. 💫

This summer, ideas will cross oceans, friendships will cross cultures, and leadership will move into action.

Stay with us as we introduce each incredible fellow one by one 🤍

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5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA
92110

Website

https://hansenleadershipinstitute.org/

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