University of New Orleans student A'ishah Abdalah has been selected as a Roosevelt Fellow, securing a competitive position in Washington, D.C., for the summer. This prestigious fellowship provides emerging leaders with the opportunity to engage in public policy, advocacy and government affairs in nation’s capital.

The Roosevelt Fellowship is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, academic excellence and a commitment to public service. As a fellow, Abdalah will work alongside policymakers, researchers and advocates to develop innovative policy solutions and gain hands-on experience in legislative affairs.

In May, Abdalah will graduate from the University of New Orleans with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Latin American Studies. She will be a participant of the fellowship post-graduation. After, she plans to attend law school and study international law. She is a past winner of a Critical Language Scholarship fellow from the State Department and serves as president of the Model United Nations club at UNO.

The Roosevelt Fellowship will run from June to August, during which time Abdalah will participate in workshops, conferences, networking events and hands-on policy work, equipping her with skills for a future in public service. She was selected for the program under the advising of Ali Bustamante, a faculty member in the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration.