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President George W. Bush’s new book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, features 43 four-color oil portraits of individuals who exemplify our proud history as a nation of immigrants. Nine of those portraits are of the following Presidential Leadership Scholars: Mark Haidar, Class of 2019 Sumera Haque, Class of 2019 Alfia Ilicheva, Class […]

Presidential Leadership Scholars are lending their voices to provide perspective on the systemic racism in this country and share thoughts towards progress.

Because of the challenges posed to travel by COVID-19, the 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholars program has been postponed for the current class until the spring of 2021.  Due to this postponement, the program will not be opening an application again until the summer of 2021.    Please email us at info@presidentialleadershipscholars.org if you have any questions.

Last week, Presidential Leadership Scholars from the past five years gathered in Washington D.C. to attend the 2019 PLS annual meeting. During the meeting, Scholars shared how PLS helped them become more effective leaders and why they think the program is unique. What makes PLS different from other leadership programs? How did PLS impact you […]

Applications open through August 31, 2019 for the 2020 class of Presidential Leadership Scholars

By Mark Updegrove In the fall of 2014, I joined a group of 15 or so representing the foundations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon Johnson convened at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas to conduct interviews with candidates for the first class of Presidential Leadership Scholars. The […]

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Four recap

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a powerful network of leaders and learn from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson  May 12, 2025 – The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program opened applications today for its 2026 program cycle. For ten years, PLS has brought together leaders […]

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Three recap

New Life, shares how the PLS Program shaped and inspired her work to combat human trafficking in Texas.

By Casey Rodriguez Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Two recap Decision-making through the lens of President George W. Bush’s Administration took center stage during Module Two of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program last month in Dallas.  Scholars of the 10th PLS class heard from President Bush directly as well as officials who worked for him who […]

Keely Cat-Wells is a 2024 Presidential Leadership Scholar and the Co-Founder and CEO of Making Space and Making Space Media, an organization that provides the necessary resources and opportunities for disabled people to create meaningful careers and become influential leaders. She shares her dedication to advancing the rights of disabled people and how the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program impacted her ability to lead and collaborate in meaningful ways. 

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module One recap

Bayeté Ross Smith, 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar, artist, and adjunct instructor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, discusses his passion for creating impactful art and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project.     I am a multidisciplinary […]

Wade Lairsen, 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar and CEO of The Birthday Party Project, discusses his passion for creating joy that changes people’s lives and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project.     I’m Wade Lairsen – currently CEO of an […]

Tenth annual class comprised of 57 accomplished leaders including educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia Jan. 15, 2025 – Today, the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program announced the 57 Scholars who will form the program’s 10th annual class. For the past decade, PLS has brought together more […]

By Margot Habiby As her uncle lay painfully dying in a hospice care facility in the heart of Philadelphia, Nubia Peña gathered with other rising American leaders a few blocks away to work on solving our nation’s most pressing issues while building community and bridging divides.  What happened next couldn’t have been more apt, particularly […]

By Casey Rodriguez The holiday season is a time for all of us to come together and celebrate with family and friends. We share in traditions, gather around, tell stories, and reflect on what the year has brought us. During this time, we are also reminded of what makes us unique individuals and how those […]

America, discusses her passion for education and the lessons she learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholar program.

Kelley Jiou is the Co-Director of the Presidential Leadership Scholars.

This spotlight features Nubia Peña, 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox’s Senior Advisor of Access and Opportunity and the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs. She discusses her background and career trajectory in advocating for historically underserved communities as well as the lessons learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

Through the program, Rugoff is working to bridge divides in language with her new initiative, Purple Lexicon. It’s designed to flag words that may carry political weight for certain groups so that communicators can be more intentional and effective when they speak or write.

Randell Trammell, 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar, Georgia Commissioner on Civic Education, and CEO of Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, discusses his passion for education and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

Mike Hemphill is the Co-Director of the Presidential Leadership Scholars.

Amy Kroll, 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar and Founder and Executive Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Women’s Campaign School at the University of Texas at Austin, shares her passion for supporting women in politics and the crucial lessons she learned on decision-making through PLS.

Rani Elwy, 2024 Presidential Leadership Scholar and professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, shares her passion for health-related policymaking and legislation and four impactful lessons she learned throughout PLS.

Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, speaks about her experience as the longest-serving presidential senior advisor in history, the importance of mentorship, and what she considers the secret sauce of leadership. 

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Six recap

Melva K. Wallace, Huston-Tillotson University President and CEO and 2016 Presidential Leadership Scholar, gives insights into her leadership journey as well as her time in PLS and what she gained through the program.

2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar Maya Enista Smith, President of Thoughtful Human, shares how greeting cards promote community and discusses sacrifice and hope – the two themes that impacted her the most throughout PLS.

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Five recap

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a network of leaders making a difference in the world and learn from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Four Recap

AnnMaura Connolly is a 2015 Presidential Leadership Scholar, President of Voices for National Service, and Chief External Engagement of Policy and International Officer/EVP at City Year.

2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar Steve Smith, President and CEO of Airlink, shares how his organization delivers critical aid and hope to millions of people around the world and discusses the power of the network gained through PLS . 

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Three recap

Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai, 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar and Founder and CEO of Eagle Online Academy, discusses a vital lesson she learned during her time the program and shares what fuels her unwavering service to women and girls. 

Former Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers on her experience in the White House, the influential women from her childhood, and what it means to her to be a woman in leadership 

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Two recap 

Yoon Choi, CEO of CollegeSpring and 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar, discusses the importance of standardized testing in helping students build a foundation for future success and how we can begin to address inequalities in our education system. 

Almost a decade ago, leaders at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas and the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, were wrestling with the same idea: How could they bring diverse people together in a nonpartisan way to teach them about leadership?  Former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, current CEO and President of […]

2024 Presidential Leadership Scholars Module One recap 

Jared Lyon, 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar and President and CEO of Student Veterans of America, discusses his passion for bridging the academic guidance gap for transitioning servicemembers and veterans.

Ninth annual class comprised of 60 accomplished leaders including servicemembers, educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins on Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C.

In this Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight, Rachel Korberg, Executive Director at The Families and Workers Fund, discusses her passion for building the future of the climate workforce, the lessons she learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholar program, and ways people can advance the clean energy and infrastructure transition.   Please tell us a little bit about […]

Presidential Leadership Scholar Desiree De La Torre, Director of Community Affairs and Population Health Improvement at the Children’s National Hospital, discusses how PLS taught her the importance of building strong collaborations, especially with those from other sectors, to support lasting, positive change. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project […]

2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar Dr. Anahita Dua is a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. She recently published an op-ed in the New York Times discussing her work advocating for a standard for treating advanced peripheral artery disease. “Medicine needs a standard for treating advanced peripheral artery […]

2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar Dr. David Bernstein shares in a Fox News opinion piece the impact of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on health, democracy, and human rights, urging Congress to act to protect this bipartisan program. “PEPFAR, a bipartisan initiative that began in 2003 under the George W. Bush administration, is […]

In this Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight, Scott Hadland, Pediatrician and Chief of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses his passion for addressing medical and mental health needs of youth, and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project (PLP).     I’m a pediatrician and since 2021 have served as Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where I lead a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, dieticians, and other professionals that together address the medical […]

Presidential Leadership Scholars alumni are making a difference in the United States and around the world by applying lessons learned through their time in the program. More than 250 PLS alumni will reconnect at the George W. Bush Presidential Center this month for the 2023 Alumni Reunion. As we count down the days until the […]

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project (PLP).    I am a Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine and Professor of Neuroscience at the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine; Professor in the USU Graduate School of Nursing; and Director of Research and Development in the USU Leadership Education […]

In this Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight, Sheril Kirshenbaum, host of Serving up Science, and Academic Specialist at Michigan State University, discusses her passion for the intersections of science, politics, and people, and the lessons she learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholar Program.

This article was previously published in White Rock Lake Weekly. Imagine calling 911 with a real emergency and being told no one was available to help.  Dallas Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Steve Lopez knows personally how important emergency response times can be. His mother “was being beaten by a lot of boyfriends” when he was young. […]

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project (PLP).   I am a scientist focused on the intersections of science, politics, and people. I began my career as a marine biologist, but working as a science fellow in Congress made me passionate to build my career improving communication between scientists, decision-makers, […]

By Sloane Davidson 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar and Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor   In the two years since Afghanistan’s fall, the United States has welcomed nearly 90,000 Afghans through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a historic government effort unseen before in this century.  We as a Nation have shown inclusive wraparound support from government, private […]

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project (PLP).   I am a family medicine physician and the CEO and co-founder of the PurpLE Health Foundation (PurpLE Health). Our nonprofit organization builds health care systems for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV)– including women and girls who have experienced human trafficking, domestic […]

In this Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight, Victor Jones, Education Special Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., discusses his involvement with Louisiana Act 960, how to move the needle on mental health education and support, and impactful lessons learned during his time in PLS.

By Michael Cooper  We call ourselves the United States of America, but we’re anything but united these days.   The divisions aren’t about the issues. Instead, we’re sorting ourselves by culture, education level, negative partisanship, and the choice to associate only with those whom we agree with. That’s not healthy for our democracy or sustainable.  But we […]

Jean Becker’s career journey took her places she never would have imagined. The New York Times bestselling author grew up in rural Missouri, then became a reporter on USA Today’s election team in 1988. She then moved to the White House, serving as Deputy Press Secretary to former first lady Mrs. Barbara Bush before eventually […]

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a network of leaders making a difference in the world and learn from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson  The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program opened the application process today for its 2024 program cycle. PLS brings together a diverse group […]

By Brian O’Donnell, 2015 Presidential Leadership Scholar and Director of the Campaign for Nature

Dr. Amy Fiedler is a cardiothoracic surgeon, an assistant professor at the University of California San Francisco, and a 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar.   As Fiedler was finishing up a standard heart transplant last December, she noticed something she had never previously experienced: Everyone in the operating room, including the patient, was a woman. After documenting […]

What many people don’t see are the countless lessons, tireless hard work, and little enlightening moments along the way in Captain Glover’s story. He recently joined a conversation with the 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholars to explore these lessons.  

2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar Riana Elyse Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Stanford University Fellow, joined PBS NewsHour to discuss how videos of police brutality traumatize many communities and individuals, raising real questions for a person’s mental health. She shares ideas on how those who watch can cope […]

Presidential Leadership Scholar Sarah Cotton Nelson, Consultant and Founder of High Flying Strategy, writes that active participation in faith communities might be an answer to our Nation’s division in a recent op-ed for the Dallas Morning News. “In our current siloed world of news-you-choose and social media algorithms that serve us up what we most […]

Eighth annual class comprised of 60 accomplished leaders including service members, educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins on Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C. 

This interview with 2022 Presidential Leadership Program Scholar Elisabeth Luevanos was originally published in The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas from the Bush Institute. Urban and suburban school districts garner most of America’s attention. Still, nearly 10 million students are enrolled in the nation’s rural schools. Their districts are building partnerships with colleges, developing curricula […]

As a seven-year-old, Mariam Memarsadeghi saw the life her parents built shatter around her during the Iranian Revolution of 1979. While her family had no intention of leaving their home country, it was clear to Memarsadeghi’s parents that their daughter could no longer have the life they had hoped for her in Iran’s new state of […]

Presidential Leadership Scholar Anita Ravi was highlighted in Politico for her work providing quality, trauma- and survivor-informed health care at no cost to gender based violence survivors and their children through PurpLE Family Health. “For me, the work that I have been doing, nearly for the past decade or so, has really shined a light […]

Health care workers around the world are increasingly looking beyond medical conditions to address other factors that can affect people’s health – things like income level, education, housing status, food insecurity, and work conditions.   That’s where Vidya Ayyr’s work comes in. As the Director of Community Social Impact at Dallas’ Parkland Health, BrainCharge Founder and […]

Presidential Leadership Scholar Donnie Hasseltine, CSO of Xenon Partners and Veteran Fellow at The Hoover Institution, recently co-authored an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle on the serious threat of life and property loss this wildfire season. “Although technological advances are improving firefighting capabilities, most innovations focus on identifying and responding to fires after they […]

Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed Dr. Sameer Vohra (PLS 2020) to lead the Illinois Department of Public Health beginning Aug. 1.  “I am humbled that the Governor has entrusted me to serve the people of our State as the 20th Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Governor Pritzker, along with the dedicated staff […]

The 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholars completed their sixth and final module in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. The capstone module focused on the power of reflection and tying together lessons learned throughout the transformative program year. Scholars met at the Independence Visitor Center located at Independence National Historical Park where they heard from former secretaries […]

Learn how one Presidential Leadership Scholar’s organization is welcoming our newest neighbors.

Presidential Leadership Scholar Adam Gilbertson, Vice President at RDO Equipment Co., is working to solve a major challenge in his home state of Montana and across the country: There aren’t enough young people entering into the trade industries. He discusses how his personal leadership project, Build Montana, is engaging with the education system in the […]

The Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2022 completed their fifth module in Austin, Texas, last week. This module focused on the leadership skill of working collaboratively to influence and persuade stakeholders through the lens of President Lyndon B. Johnson and his administration.  Scholars were welcomed by Mark Updegrove, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, […]

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a network of leaders making a difference in the world and to learn from the leadership of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson

Presidential Leadership Scholar Priti Krishtel, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of I-MAK, was recently quoted in a New York Times editorial endorsing the work of her organization, which fights to create a more inclusive, equitable patent system that works for all. “The patent office holds sway over huge swaths of the U.S. economy,” said Krishtel. “It […]

This month, the Presidential Leadership Scholars visited the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. The fourth program module focused on the leadership skill of decision making through the lens of President Bush’s leadership and administration.

Presidential Leadership Scholar Dr. Raymond Tsai (2020) is working to improve overall health and wellness in the rural communities of California.

Presidential Leadership Scholar Adeeti Gupta, a board-certified OB-GYN with over a decade of experience, wants her health care brand and personal leadership project, Walk In GYN Care, to be the Starbucks of women’s health – providing standardized, excellent services across the Nation. 

The 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholars gathered in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center for their third program module March 10-12.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Presidential Leadership Scholars shared recommendations for books, podcasts, and films that highlight women’s history, advocate for gender equity, and celebrate the power of women.

Module two focused on strategic partnerships and the leadership of President George H.W. Bush.

Presidential Leadership Scholar Shareefah Mason (2020) is diversifying and strengthening the teacher pipeline with a specific focus on increasing the number of Black and Latinx candidates. Shareefah joins us for a Q&A on what motivates her to do this work, reflections on Black History Month, and more.

Jerry Hawkins (PLS 2020) gives an update on his PLP, Young Leaders Strong City, reflects on what Black History Month means to him, and shares who has influenced his life and work.

Presidential Leadership Scholar John Coleman gives an update on what he’s been working on since graduating from PLS in 2018 and shares his advice for the 2022 Scholars.

In January, the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) Class of 2022 convened for the first time virtually. Check out a recap of the week’s activities.

Seventh annual class composed of 60 Scholars including veterans, educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins Jan. 18 Jan. 18, 2022 – The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program today named the 60 Scholars who will form the program’s seventh annual class. PLS serves as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought […]

The Presidential Leadership Scholars continue to increase the breadth and depth of their impact around the world. From sharing stories of triumph and devastation in Afghanistan to advocating against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the work of our Scholars has never been more important than in 2021. Take a look back at some of the most important and impactful moments.

As we enter the holiday season, the PLS team is reflecting on our incredible Scholars who continue to be catalysts for action and positive change around the globe. We recently asked the Presidential Leadership Scholars to share their thoughts on gratitude and what they are most thankful for as they think back on the past year.

Class of 2017’s Gerardo Interiano gives an update on his Personal Leadership Project, the Hispanic Impact Fund, and reflects on how PLS has contributed to its recent success.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we spoke with Class of 2018’s Julissa Carielo, Founder of the Maestro Entrepreneur Center and Dream On Group in San Antonio, TX, about her Mexican heritage, her personal leadership project at the Maestro Entrepreneurship Center, and how the two intersect.

Presidential Leadership Scholars AnnMaura Connolly (Class of 2015) and Rye Barcott (Class of 2019) recently wrote an op-ed featured in the Dallas Morning News. Take a look: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/13/national-service-can-heal-our-partisan-divides/

My father has never fully shared his story.  Speaking of his challenges and struggles would be against his native traditions and culture.  However, I am still in awe of the risk that he took.  Born and raised in India by impoverished Muslim parents, he dared to dream.  At 23, my father left his rural village, […]

Class of 2016’s Bing Wei shares a recent story inspired by President George W. Bush this Immigrant Heritage Month. When our PLS family gathered over Zoom last October 2020, I was depressed. My video update centered around reading my poem of describing helplessness through the imagery of Chinese cooking during the COVID lockdown. My poem, […]

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser recently announced that Class of 2018’s Christina Grant will serve as the District’s state superintendent of education. Read more via the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/christina-grant-dc-schools-state-superintendent/2021/06/03/08230cb6-c48d-11eb-9a8d-f95d7724967c_story.html

Scholar Jay Bhatt was recently honored as one of the Harvard Kennedy School’s 2021 Alumni Award winners. Read more here: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/alumni/connect/community-stories/2021-alumni-awards?utm_source=alumni-awards-announcement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alumni-awards-2021#Bhatt

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a network of leaders making a difference in the world, and learn from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson Applications are now open  to join the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program — a one-of-a-kind partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William […]

Presidential Leadership Scholars Dr. Sunny Jha, Dr. Loren Robinson, and Dr. Jay Bhatt are on the front lines in their communities in the fight against COVID-19 — but thanks to vaccines that are now available, see a light at the end of the tunnel. They recently spoke to the George W. Bush Center’s Andrew Kaufmann […]

Presidential Leadership Scholar Virginia Buckingham speaks to lessons in resilience from the forefront of 9/11. Read more in The Hill: https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/498032-how-to-find-hope-in-dark-times?fbclid=IwAR2J6zL4wddqvIEwU2EJdtt_h8ThQYmTFS7DwlWHVVJ0V7R2utECgc7Wwcw

Presidential Leadership Scholars Dr. Jay Bhatt and Dr. Kavita Patel recently wrote an opinion piece for ABC News on overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/takes-community-overcome-vaccine-hesitancy-opinion/story?id=75403505&fbclid=IwAR36nOLg6Q581CcPhwf3_o1asrrVW2G_vnliSRwVXbQ6MSD1rf9ESZKVJzo

In 1787, the U.S. Constitution created the modern day Office of the President.  Two years later, the Electoral College was first convened and George Washington was unanimously elected President.  But Washington was a reluctant President.  Accustomed to monarchies and with no term limits, few could understand why after serving two terms he would choose to […]