Nine Widener Students Named Millennium Fellows

Widener University is proud to recognize nine undergraduate students who have been named Millennium Fellows through a highly selective national leadership development program presented by the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network.

The program runs on campuses worldwide during the fall semester. Widener students are creating and executing projects that connect the university to any one of 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, which touch on everything from poverty and clean water to climate action, gender equality and more.

Fellows were chosen for their leadership acumen and their history of generating ideas that complement the United Nation sustainable development goals’ intent to transform the world.  

As fellows, they will meet weekly and follow a curriculum devised by the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network. The leadership development experience is intended to improve their skills at student organizing, partnership building, and making a community impact – all as they bring life to their individual projects. There were a record 7,020 applications to the program this year, from young leaders in 135 nations. 

The program selected just six percent of applicants. Fellows hail from 69 campuses in 16 countries. There are only 21 colleges in the United States with Millennium Fellows, and Widener University is one of only three campuses in Pennsylvania to host a cohort.

“Widener University is deeply committed to addressing vexing problems in our local and global communities,” President Julie E. Wollman said. “Talented Widener faculty and students are determined to tackle these challenges to improve our world.  I am very proud that our students are contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals with their creative engagement and expertise.  These types of experiential learning opportunities put our students on the inside track to fulfilling work and to meaningful lives.”

Students named as fellows, and their majors, include:

•    Julia Rubillo of Woodlyn, Pa., business analytics.
•    Natalie Weaver of Springfield, Pa., psychology
•    Aisha Lunkins of Chadds Ford, Pa., biology
•    Allison Kovacs of Manalapan, N.J., management/sports management
•    James Rodgers of Elizabethtown, Pa., chemical engineering
•    Joseph Lofton of Schwenksville, Pa., digital media informatics
•    Julia Dallmer of Lumberton, N.J., sociology/social research
•    Kulsoom Mohammad of Collegeville, Pa., biology
•    Melinda Phann of Philadelphia, management/human resources
 
Rubillo and Weaver will serve as the group leaders and facilitate the leadership development trainings.