For Immediate Release
July 24, 2014
Contact Information

Donna Brock
404-880-8337
dbrock@cau.edu

Larry Calhoun
404-880-6040
lcalhoun@cau.edu

(BPRW) CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY (CAU) SELECTED AS ONE OF THE HOST SCHOOLS FOR THE WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS PROGRAM

(BLACK PR WIRE) "" ATLANTA "" Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of only 20 U.S. host schools for the Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders Program, which will convene on campus June 14 through July 25. This is the flagship program of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the purpose of which is to further empower and bolster young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring and networking in three distinct tracks: civic leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and public management.

CAU is the only private historically black college or university (HBCU) and the only university in Georgia to host this prestigious program. Mesfin Bezuneh, Ph.D., the director of the program and professor of economics in the School of Business Administration at CAU, said, "Given the present structure and business activities of developing countries, more specifically those on the continent of Africa, the YALI program is practical and timely, attracting support from all sectors of the economy in both the United States and Africa."

"At CAU, we are pleased to train this summer at least 25 young men and women leaders, focusing on business and entrepreneurship, starting summer 2014." Bezuneh added, "The program will lay the foundation for long-term business, academic and social engagements between the United States and African nations."

The Washington Fellowship is geared toward outstanding young leaders who have several years of professional experience and a proven record of accomplishment in leading and promoting positive change in their organizations, institutions or communities. More than 50,000 applications were received for the 500 slots available at the host schools. The other host schools are: Arizona State University, Dartmouth College, Florida International University, Howard University, Morgan State University, Northwestern University, Rutgers University, Syracuse University, Tulane University, University of Arkansas, University of California (Berkley), University of Delaware, University of Minnesota, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin, Presidential Precinct, University of Wisconsin (Stout), Wagner College and Yale University.