Providence College student awarded prestigious Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship
Justin Babu selected for a fully funded leadership program in Ireland
PORTLAND, Maine, March 17, 2022 – Providence College junior Justin Babu has been selected as a 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellow, an honor awarding him a full scholarship to represent Providence College at a four-week leadership program for students of color that is set in Ireland and focused on peace, social justice, and conflict resolution.
The Government of Ireland will co-sponsor the 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows to continue the legacy project created to honor the 175th anniversary of the meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the great Irish reformer Daniel O’Connell in Dublin in 1845. While in Ireland, the Fellows will explore the life stories, leadership styles, and legacies of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell as they engage in a comparative study of peace and conflict resolution through the lens of Ireland, the Middle East, and South Africa.
Justin is one of 16 high-achieving diverse student leaders selected from a record number of outstanding applicants based on their demonstrated leadership and communication skills, and their dedication to agitating for positive social change.
In this video you can hear from all 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows:
- Audrey McNeal – Barnard College
- Luiza Vilanova – Columbia University
- Lauren Baker – Grand Canyon University
- Ryan Doan-Nguyen – Harvard University
- Nicolas Dominguez Carrero – Harvard University
- Tyler Smith – Howard University
- Shira Nash – Northwestern University
- Justin Babu – Providence College
- Jamal Sayid – Rice University
- Jahaad Shairi – Rochester Institute of Technology
- Masaki (Mark) Okuda – Soka University of America
- Kamayah Scruggs – Spelman College
- Disha Ganjegunte – Texas Tech University
- Brennan Connell – The New School
- Nicole Mora – UNC Chapel Hill
- Jhohanna Perez – University of Pennsylvania
A double major in Biology and Secondary Education, Justin was selected as a Frederick Douglass Global Fellow because of his academic excellence, communication skills, and commitment to social justice.
A highlight of Justin’s service to his community is his work as a Philanthropic Leadership Fellow at the Providence Shelter for Colored Children. Facilitated by the Feinstein Institute of Public Service, Justin serves underrepresented youth in afterschool music and tutoring programs.
He cites a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion as inspiration for becoming a Frederick Douglass Global Fellow.
“I am excited to work and collaborate with like-minded peers for the purpose of equity and inclusion. I’ve seen firsthand the effects of how sharing resources promotes equity. I hope that through the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship program, I can continue to promote diversity, equity and inclusion as Frederick Douglass did.”
“The 2022 cohort of Frederick Douglass Global Fellows is an extraordinary group of students, representing a rich diversity of backgrounds, universities, academic majors, and personal stories,” said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. “These leaders of tomorrow will be transformed through their experience in Ireland, as was Frederick Douglass in 1845, returning home with a global perspective on how to agitate peacefully for positive change in their communities and in our world.”
“Ireland was so special to Frederick Douglass,” said Nettie Washington Douglass, chairwoman and co-founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, and the great-great-granddaughter of Frederick Douglass and great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington. “The welcome and respect with which Frederick was greeted across his tour of Ireland affected him profoundly. I can think of no better place for these exceptional young people to hone their leadership skills and prepare to be agents of change.”
The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship was launched in 2017 as part of CIEE’s commitment to increasing access to study abroad by students in underrepresented groups. In addition to funding the 16 Fellows, CIEE will provide all 700+ students who applied for this year’s fellowship a $1,500 Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant towards any CIEE study abroad program within the next year, committing more than one million dollars in grant funds to help diverse students study abroad.
The CIEE Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant has been matched by over thirty college presidents who are champions of international education, reducing the cost of studying abroad even further for their students. CIEE is proud to partner with these global leaders to open doors for all students from all backgrounds and significantly increase diversity abroad.
To learn more about the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, visit ciee.org/FDGF.
