
Leadership & Society Initiative Fellows
The Fellows who make up the University of Chicago Leadership and Society Initiative form one of the world’s most accomplished cohorts. But what truly distinguishes the Fellows is their commitment to harnessing their experiences toward building a better world.
LSI Fellows are brought together by their shared history of successful leadership and determination to accomplish even more. Fellows form bonds that help to sustain, motivate, and guide them throughout their career encores. They become better acquainted with one another, the campus, and the city through community activities like lunches, campus events, and joining the Quadrangle Club, the historic membership club for faculty, staff, and community members.
We are thrilled to welcome our 2025–2026 cohort. Over the past year, more than 800 leaders submitted candidacies for our LSI Imagine and Design Pathways from a diverse array of sectors. The selected Fellows are joining a vibrant and expanding community of changemakers who are redefining what it means to lead with purpose and to create meaningful next chapters for themselves and for society.
Meet our 2025-26 Design Pathway Fellows
Deborah Alexander
Erika Allen
Robert Espinoza
Mark Gossett
Elizabeth Higgins-Beard
Dev Jain
Rich Klawiter
Rénu Kulkarni
Gil Latz
Latanya Mapp
Jay Mesrobian
Bob Oros
Rita Sadhvani
John Sandwick
Susan Stone
Jennifer Vachon
Warren Whitlock
John Yerger
Michael Zimmerman
Meet our 2025-26 Activate Fellows
The Leadership & Society Initiative (LSI) Activate Pathway is designed to support LSI alumni in continuing to strengthen their Purpose Plans and activate their next chapters for a second year after completing the LSI Fellowship. The Activate Fellowship offers deepened focus and further engagement with University resources as Fellows bring their visions for future leadership from concept to reality.
Kurt Roger Cherry
Constance Filling
Katrin Klingenberg
Pamela Narins
M. von Nkosi