In May, we launched applications for the Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2026! Thank you to all who have supported the recruitment of our upcoming class. We are grateful to you for posting the application on social media, sharing your PLS experience with your networks, and helping us brainstorm different communities to connect with. Applications close July 20 at midnight, so please continue to share the opportunity to join this one-of-a-kind program!

This year, we’re continuing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the PLS program and recently launched our #PLSat10 series, which includes blogs and interviews with leaders who have been involved in the program throughout the past decade. We kicked off the series with a piece by President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation Mark Updegrove, who wrote a letter to all Scholars past, present, and future on what gives him and other PLS speakers and staff hope (hint – it’s you!). Keep an eye out on our social media channels for additional #PLSat10 articles and interviews published throughout the year. To finish off the celebratory year, we hope to see you at the 10th Anniversary Alumni Celebration in Washington, D.C., on October 10. See below for additional details and RSVP today.

Last but not least, the Class of 2025 attended their final module in Washington, D.C. last week and officially joined the alumni network – bringing the number of PLS alumni to nearly 600! Please connect with and welcome them to this incredible network.

Continue reading below for other PLS updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can assist you in any way. Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

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

Kelley Jiou
Director, Presidential Leadership Scholars
George W. Bush Institute

The PLS program continues to celebrate 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 series. 

RSVP for the PLS 10th Anniversary Alumni Celebration at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., on October 10. Additional details are posted on Workplace. Click here to register.

New Alumni Platform Coming!
We are transitioning to Flip as Facebook sunsets Workplace

The new platform will look and feel very similar, with many of the features you’ve come to love from Workplace. We’re adding others that we believe will help keep this network strong moving forward.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A familiar, easy-to-navigate space that mirrors the feel of Workplace.

• Chat groups by cohort, topic, and interest – plus an all-network group for everyone (and all in one app, unlike Workplace!).

• Timely updates from the program team, all in one place.

• Events, announcements, and opportunities to stay in the loop.

• Workplace will be moving to read-only mode Aug. 31.

You’ll receive everything you need to get started in August, including your Flip login link, profile setup instructions, and ways to engage. Flip was built with your feedback and experiences in mind, and we believe it will be a useful tool to connect us all. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Casey Rodriguez with feedback.

PLS LinkedIn group

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

Upcoming webinars

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the PLS Program, we’re excited to bring you webinar highlighting some of the leaders who have played a pivotal role in the program since the very beginning.

• September 16, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT with Mark Updegrove on his new book, Make Your Mark: Lessons Character from Seven Presidents (view details on Workplace)

• November 19, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT with Jean Becker on her book, Character Matters and Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush (view details on Workplace)

Supporting PLS

The Presidential Leadership Scholars Program is long-lasting and impactful – and our goal is to continue that legacy. We aim to run a fiscally sound program at 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 PLS 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. 

At the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Scholars learned about strategic partnerships through the lens of the 41st president. Throughout the module, Scholars learned about the profound impact President Bush had on our country through his moral courage and principled leadership. The Class of 2025 heard from Secretary Andy Card, who served as Secretary of Transportation under President Bush and Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush; Jean Becker, Chief of Staff to President Bush during his post-presidency; John Sherman, Dean of the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University; and Fred McClure, former Assistant for Legislative Affairs to President Bush and Chief Community Engagement Officer at Texas A&M. You can read the full recap and view photos of Module Five here.

The Class of 2025 completed their final module in Washington, D.C., last week and officially joined the alumni network!

• Dean Fealk (2015) delivered a speech on the connection of Silicon Valley to the world.

• Russ Kavalhuna (2016) was appointed as the 10th president of Western Michigan University.

• Kate Smith (2017) was honored with the 2025 Most Influential Women in Business Award by the San Francisco Business Times.

• Adeeti Gupta (2019) started a new position as Founder and CEO at Longevity Center Beverly Hills.

• Johanna Oliver Rousseaux (2020) received the "Unsung Hero" award at the 2025 Florida Legal Awards.

• Lourdes Zuniga (2022) was honored as the Mentor of the Year by Austin Under 40 Awards.

• Neil Vora (2023) published a piece based on the miraculous medicines that have originated from reptile species in the LA Times.

• Keith Fernandez (2024) received the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Ambassador Award at CHLI's annual gala.

• Diana Zhang (2022) started a new position as Chief Operating Officer at Grayscale Investments.

• Alia Malik (2022) recognized with a Cal Cities Women's Caucus Women of Persistence 2024 Award by the City of Mountain View.

• Roy Lopez (2015) was appointed by the Dallas City Council to serve on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors.

• Benjamin Kohlmann (2018) was nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

• Amy Fiedler (2020) was named Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at University of California, San Francisco.

A new collection of never-before-seen paintings by President Bush that captures the spirit of people who comprise SMU and the Bush Center – now on display until Oct. 19.

Game Changer: United by Sports opens Sept. 6 at the Bush Center

Our new exhibit takes visitors on a tour of the remarkable power of sports to bring people together and inspire greatness in fans young and old.

Mrs. Laura Bush’s 2025 Summer Reading List for Kids

This year’s list celebrates America, everyday adventures, and friendships that stand the test of time. It features 16 books including I Loved You First, written by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, First Ladies Make History, In a Jar, and The Rabbit Listened.

President George W. Bush meets with exiled Belarusian democracy leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Tsikhanouskaya met with President George W. Bush in Dallas to discuss her fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus – a country suffering under the brutal dictatorship of Aleksandr Lukashenka.

Behind shuttered borders: A view into North Korea’s COVID-19 experiences

New, first-of-its-kind report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Bush Institute, based on the voices of 100 ordinary North Koreans.

This month, President Bill Clinton delivered remarks at a naturalization ceremony at the Clinton Center, congratulating 38 new American citizens while making a passionate case for immigration amid current policy debates. He said, “I don’t think we need fewer immigrants. I think we need more.” Watch a clip here.

Four Things to Know About CHIP

Parents shouldn’t have to choose between paying for health care and other necessities, or go into debt for their children’s medical care. That’s why President Clinton and his administration signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into law. Here are four things to know about CHIP.

Chelsea Clinton on Building Resiliency

Dr. Clinton spoke at the Aurora 2025 Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum, where she emphasized the importance of locally led initiatives to build resilience and advocates for a better future for all children — from championing early literacy to building safer, climate-resilient spaces.

Now Streaming: Clinton Center Speakers

The Clinton Center hosts a wide array of engaging programs with change makers, thought leaders, and experts. Join us to explore moments from the Clinton Administration, discover little known stories from history, and go behind the scenes of the Clinton White House. You can stream all these programs and more on the Clinton Center’s YouTube channel.

Investing in Overdose Prevention

Amid the largest overdose decline in 45 years, now is the moment to keep focusing on what's working in the fight. Through the Clinton Foundation's Overdose Response Network, we know what works: expanding access to lifesaving naloxone and community responders on the frontlines. Read the op-ed from Jessica Geschke, senior project manager for the Overdose Response Network.