Celebrating the 2025–2026 Humphrey Fellows
American University Washington College of Law proudly celebrated the 2025–2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship cohort during its annual Certificate Ceremony on April 14, recognizing the accomplishments of this year’s Fellows and the global impact of the prestigious Fulbright exchange program.
The ceremony brought together Fellows, faculty, staff, community hosts, and program partners to honor the completion of another successful fellowship year dedicated to professional development, academic enrichment, and international collaboration.
Padideh Ala’i, professor of law and director of the Humphrey Fellowship Program at AUWCL, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the occasion.
“The event is both celebratory and bittersweet, marking the culmination of a transformative year,” Ala’i said in her remarks.
Ala’i emphasized that the success of the Humphrey Fellowship Program is made possible through the collective support of faculty mentors, community hosts, university staff, and institutional partners. Special recognition was given to Karin Edwards, who partners in leading the program and oversees its day-to-day operations, as well as the many faculty and staff members who support the Fellows throughout the year. She also thanked the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), the program’s implementing partner, for their continued support.
The ceremony featured remarks from Yiqing (Angel) Fang, director of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at IIE; Anne Howard-Tristani, former president of Howard-Tristani International Consulting and niece of the late Vice President Hubert Humphrey; and Jim Cawley, who spoke on behalf of the program’s community hosts.
Speaking on behalf of the cohort, Humphrey Fellow Jie Liu reflected on the bonds formed throughout the year and the challenges the Fellows overcame together.
“We arrived as strangers, and now, we leave as a community,” Liu said. “No matter where life takes us next, I hope we will always remember this time, this place, and this community—with pride, with gratitude, and maybe with a few good stories we will keep telling for years.”
Liu also thanked the faculty, staff, host families, and administrators who supported the Fellows throughout the year, noting that their generosity helped make Washington, D.C., “feel like home.”
A highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to each Fellow, accompanied by personalized reflections celebrating their professional achievements, leadership, and contributions to the AUWCL community. Ala’i praised the Fellows for enriching the law school through the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences, noting the profound impact they leave on campus each year.
The 2025–2026 Humphrey Fellows represent a diverse range of expertise and public service leadership from across the globe, with professional focuses spanning climate change advocacy, artificial intelligence governance, anti-corruption initiatives, human rights, minority protections, sports diplomacy, judicial reform, and technological innovation.
The ceremony concluded with a reception celebrating the Fellows’ accomplishments and the lasting partnerships formed during their time at AUWCL.
As part of the Fulbright Exchange Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from around the world to the United States for a year of academic study, leadership development, and professional collaboration.