Leadership in public service: Improving lives, building trust worldwide
The Fulbright exchange Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides accomplished professionals from countries with emerging economies an international enrichment opportunity in leadership and public service. At Cornell, our Humphrey Fellows focus in one of three, often overlapping, areas of interest: agriculture, environment, and natural resource management. Through the U.S. Department of State-sponsored yearlong exchange of professional development and networking, our Humphrey Fellows can go on to effect profound development changes in their home countries.
40
Years of Impact
115
Countries
400+
Fellowship alumni
About the Fellowship program
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 to honor the late senator and vice president Hubert H. Humphrey for his lifelong commitment to international cooperation and public service. This specialized non-degree program provides professionals from countries with developing and emerging economies an opportunity to enhance their leadership capacity.
The Fulbright exchange activity provides intensive training across an academic year. Cornell is one of 13 Humphrey Program campuses. Primary funding is provided by the U.S. Congress through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. Co-sponsors include other governmental agencies, multinational organizations, and private donors. The Institute of International Education (IIE) assists the ECA in administering the Humphrey Fellowship Program.
The Program at Cornell
At Cornell, we focus on three, often overlapping, areas of interest: agriculture, environment, and natural resource management. The Fellows not only strengthen their knowledge and skills through an academic year of Cornell coursework, internships, seminars and more — they also collaborate on projects with faculty and students and, primarily through their 6-week professional affiliations, with public and private organizations around the USA.
Our Fellows enrich communities in Ithaca and beyond by sharing their personal experiences and cultures. A long-standing partnership with our associate campus Alfred State College has led to rewarding educational exchanges and exciting collaborative projects. Our Friendship Partners continue to multiply the effectiveness of the Program well beyond professional development. They provide the opportunity for Fellows to meet American citizens, young and old, and to enter the real life of the USA. They are a great source of support as well as friendship.
The Cornell Humphrey experience results in profound development changes back home as well as engendering trust in, and collaboration with, the USA. Our Fellows experience a transformative year that lasts long after they leave the program.
In This Section
Leading sustainable change
Humphrey Fellows at Cornell make an impact in 3 areas
Agriculture
Addressing local and global impediments to improving agricultural yields and achieving food security
Artak Khachatrychan (2019-20) helped facilitate the first-ever conference and workshop series on climate smart agriculture in Armenia, leading to a continued Cornell and UN collaboration in his country.
Environment
Learning to sustainably resolve environmental problems to increase climate resilience and support local livelihoods
Emmanuel Ajani (2017-18) led community solar installation trainings in an under-resourced Nigerian village, teaching 53 participants marketable skills for the up-and-coming solar sector.
Natural resource management
Managing conservation challenges from a social, ecological, and cross-disciplinary perspective
William Cinea (2010-11) helped manage Cornell Botanic Gardens, taking tools back to Haiti to create Cayes Botanical Garden, the country’s first botanic garden and a central hub for environmental research and education.
Our Team

Director, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
Department of Global Development
Adjunct Professor
School of Integrative Plant Science
Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
- (607) 255-9855
- pg46 [at] cornell.edu

Graduate Assistant, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Department of Global Development
- (269) 301-0078
- fgb43 [at] cornell.edu
Undergraduate Coordinator, International Agriculture and Rural Development major
Department of Global Development
- (607) 255-3811
- dmm40 [at] cornell.edu

Associate Director, Professional Development Programs
Department of Global Development
- peh58 [at] cornell.edu
Making a difference around the world
Explore the impact stories resulting from the Humphrey Fellowship Program at Cornell

Spotlight
- Department of Global Development
- Global Development

Field Note
- Department of Global Development
- Agriculture
- Food