Fellowship

This year marked the 15th Anniversary of the Albright Institute. In honor of Secretary Albright's unwavering commitment towards solving global challenges through diplomacy and leadership, this year's theme, "Negotiating for Humanity," served as a poignant reminder of her legacy. Throughout her distinguished career, Secretary Albright exemplified the power of principled negotiation and compassionate diplomacy in addressing some of the world's most pressing issues.

During the first two weeks of Wintersession, Albright Fellows attended classes with prominent speakers, including academics, alumnae practitioners, and thought leaders from outside organizations and around the globe. The Fellows worked in interdisciplinary groups to research and form perspectives on pressing international issues, culminating in a Q&A session with the Institute’s Distinguished Visiting Professor.

The eight topical issues of Wintersession 2024 were:

1. Development of Space Medicine

2. American Biopiracy in Ecuador

3. Use of AI in the Korea DMZ

4. Trafficking of the Sea Cucumber

5. Global Phosphorus Supply | Morocco, W Sahara

6. Transition to Clean Cooking Technologies in India

7. Human-Animal Relations, Land Mgmt in Kenya

8. Sanctions and Human Rights in Venezuela

This year’s Distinguished Visiting Professor was Ellen Løj, a diplomat with 35 years of foreign service experience, including in multiple leadership roles in the Danish government and the United Nations. Most recently, she served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS, 2014-2016). This Wintersession, Ambassador Løj joined us for our annual public dialogue facilitated by Stacie Goddard, Betty Freyhof Johnson ’44 Professor of Political Science and Associate Provost for Wellesley in the World.