After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire as Co-Director of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program at the end of this year. These past eleven years at the Clinton Foundation, especially being part of the development and growth of PLS, have been the most rewarding of my career. I will forever be grateful to Stephanie Streett and Bruce Lindsey for the opportunity and trust they've given me. My deep appreciation to Michael O’Leary, whom I've had the honor of working alongside and learning from since the very beginning. And I couldn’t have asked for better colleagues over the years than my friends at the Bush Center.

While retirement is a significant and exciting decision (I've been at this work thing for nearly 50 years), I remain as passionate as ever about all things PLS, including our current class of Scholars. This program was founded on the belief that we achieve our best when we work together. We've hoped to show all of you that despite our differences in prioritizing issues, defining problems, or selecting solutions, we can actively support each other through our shared commitment to making the world a better place.

We are living in particularly complex times, and the leadership principles reinforced through PLS are needed now more than ever. Although our personal opinions on strategies and tactics may vary, I hope we still agree that leadership isn't something we do to someone else but emerges from our meaningful connections with one another. Continue to give each other grace to hold differing opinions, but remain steadfast in preserving the valued relationships you've forged through your participation in PLS.

Even though I'll be stepping away from my formal role, I intend to stay connected and support the valuable work you're doing. I guess that means the PLS journey is still my destination (you know I had to say it).

Thank you for being part of an extraordinary eleven years. I cherish every moment.

Sincerely,

Mike Hemphill, Ph.D
Director, Presidential Leadership Scholars
Clinton Foundation

The PLS Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Here are three ways you can join us to mark this incredible milestone.

Share reflections with your personal and professional networks about your PLS experience and how the program has helped you deepen your impact. Click here for an alumni social media toolkit with 10-year anniversary graphics and sample social media posts. We can’t wait to see what you share to celebrate #PLSat10.

Reach out to Casey Rodriguez if you’d like to share how the PLS Program has impacted you both personally and professionally. We may feature your story on our PLS website or social media channels for our #PLSat10 campaign.

Save the date and plan to join us for the PLS 10th Anniversary Alumni Celebration in Washington, D.C. on October 10. We will share more details on Workplace and via email.

Please make sure your Workplace account is up to date, as this is the main way we will share information with you about upcoming events. It’s also a great place to follow along with the work of your colleagues, join interest groups, and collaborate with one another.

We have created a Presidential Leadership Scholars alumni group on LinkedIn to complement Workplace. Please take a moment to join if you haven’t already – and be sure to tag us whenever posting about PLS!

Alumni gatherings

We’re excited to share the alumni gatherings scheduled at this time! More details will be available on Workplace as they are finalized.

• New Orleans, Louisiana: April 4-6, 2025 (view details on Workplace)

Supporting PLS

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program is long-lasting and impactful – and our goal is to continue that! We aim to run a fiscally sound program that is of no cost to its participants. As we celebrate a decade of the program, we know that you, as alumni, want to be helpful to ensure the program is sustainable for years to come. Though the program has a specific approach to fundraising, we welcome your ideas and support. Please reach out to Kelley Jiou or visit the PLS website if you or someone in your network wants to be involved.

Update your contact information

Please send any email and mailing address updates to Casey Rodriguez, so we can continue to keep in touch and update you on the latest from PLS.

The 2025 class also traveled to Dallas, Texas, last month to learn about decision-making through the lens of President George W. Bush and his administration. Scholars were joined by an incredible lineup of guests, including Dana Perino, Bush Administration White House Press Secretary; Dr. Deborah Birx, former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator; and Mrs. Laura Bush and President George W. Bush. You can read the Module Two recap here.

The Scholars will visit Little Rock, Arkansas, at the end of March to learn about vision and communication through lessons from the Clinton Administration.

• Keely Cat-Wells (2024) Founder and CEO of Making Space and Making Space Media
• Wade Lairsen (2022) CEO of The Birthday Party Project
• Bayeté Ross Smith (2019) artist and adjunct instructor at New York University’s Tish School of the Arts

• Marvin Figueroa (2023) joined BGR Group as a Vice President and was appointed Distinguished Visiting Fellow and Founding Faculty Member at Meharry School of Global Health.

• Tony Vargas (2018) started a new position as Executive Director at Square One Politics.

• Stephanie Bothun (2023) joined CareerWise USA as their first Chief Operating Officer.

• Byron Sanders (2017) began a new role serving as the CEO of Arete Health, Inc.

• David Bernstein (2022) was selected as David Rockefeller Fellow at The Trilateral Commission.

• Irela Bague (2015) received the Leadership Luminary Award for the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

• Mary Owens (2023) started a new position as Deputy Director of Housing & Community Development for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

• Tynesia Boyea-Robinson (2018) was featured in a Forbes article about 11 inspiring examples of black entrepreneurs and business women.

• Mayme Hostetter (2024) has accepted a new position in Minneapolis to lead Hamline University.

• Katherine Pickus (2023) began a new position as Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM.

• Neil Vora (2022) published a piece in the Council on Foreign Relations’ magazine on the avian flu.

• Melva Wallace (2016) received Austin Woman magazine’s 2025 Change Maker Award.

• Randell Trammell (2023) was awarded the Georgia Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities.

• Sarah Paden (2024) began a new role at Goldman Sachs as Vice President of State Government Affairs.

• Sarah Jackson (2016) joined HNTB Corporation as Central Division government relations director.

• Mark Haider (2019) announced the launch of his PLP, Dusk Observations, in partnership with Limitless Space Institute.

• Monica Gorman (2020) started a new position as Managing Director at Crowell Global Advisors.

• The Class of 2022 organized a four-day civil rights tour across Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama.

In January, the George W. Bush Institute released recommendations on international and domestic policy challenges facing the Trump Administration, Congress, and state and local policymakers. These policy briefs cover matters such as supporting Ukraine, countering the China, Russia, Iran, North Korea challenge, and reforming the U.S. immigration system to maximize America’s potential.

Community Conversation with Emmanuel Acho

The Bush Center is excited to provide a unique community conversation with Emmanuel Acho – former NFL player, #1 New York Times bestselling author, sports analyst, and thought leader – on challenging the status quo and creating lasting change. Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh will join Acho to share insights on how to have difficult conversations, the power of mindset in shaping our future, and strategies for driving personal and collective transformation. Reserve your complimentary ticket today.

Read the new Catalyst issue, ‘Memos to Washington’

The winter edition of The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas from the Bush Institute focuses on policy recommendations for the Trump Administration and Congress by our experts at the Bush Institute. The recommendations aim to advance the values the Bush Institute champions: freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. This issue of The Catalyst explores international foreign policy – including what a win-win approach to Latin America looks like and how to stop the authoritarian onslaught – and domestic policy issues like how to house all Americans and ensure our schools stay strong.

Pluralism is how “the sausage gets made” in government

Watch this compelling interview with Chris Walsh, Director of Global Policy at the Bush Institute, and Jon Bennion, 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar, as they discuss how his PLP came to life through sausage making, using it as the perfect platform for easing tensions and building relationships among incoming members of the Montana state legislature.

Spring guided tour of the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park

Come explore the 15-acre Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park open for self-guided tours from sunrise until sunset, 365 days a year. A network of paths takes visitors through native Texas environments such as blackland prairie, post oak savannah, and cross timbers forest. Join us for a free guided tour by North Texas master naturalists every Saturday at 10 a.m. from March 15 through May 31, weather permitting.

The Clinton Center has contributed significantly to the regional economy of Arkansas through its direct investment and catalytic effect on private development, according to a new report from the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Specifically, the economy has expanded by nearly $4.9 billion over the past 20 years.

Clinton Foundation’s 2024 annual impact report

The report highlights key moments and stories such as the 20th anniversary of the Clinton Center, 175 new Commitments to Action announced at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, welcoming the ninth class of Presidential Leadership Scholars, and much more. The report also includes special messages from the Clintons and Foundation leadership.

Three years later: The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) community continues to support the people of Ukraine

The toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been devastating. For the past three years, the CGI Annual Meeting has lifted up the voices of those on the front lines, and members of the CGI community have continued to work in the country and region to support the people of Ukraine.

Public programs at the Clinton Center

Visit the Clinton Center’s events calendar to see all of the upcoming programs including a special conversation and performance from SUFFS writer and star Shaina Taub and actress Tsilala Brock. Secretary Hillary Clinton produced the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. You can also stream previous programs, including a conversation with the Obama Foundation’s Tina Tchen.

President Clinton called leaders together for the 20th year of the Clinton Global Initiative

President Clinton issued an open letter calling together people in business, government, and civil society for a meeting focused on what’s working and how we can bridge divides to solve our most urgent crises. The CGI 2025 Annual Meeting will take place September 24-25, 2025, in New York City.