The Institute selects fifteen outstanding young men to spend next two summers in its Washington, DC program.
The press release and bios can be downloaded here.
During the summer of 2020, scholars wrote papers on a variety of topics through the lens of impact and presented these papers on July 23, 2020.
The complete publication can be downloaded here.
The Washington Program
From hundreds of applications, the Institute selects some of the nation’s best and brightest African American male college students to participate in its Washington Program. It includes:
- High-level internships in their fields of interest
- Seminar on Economic and Constitutional Principles
- Residency as a Cohort in a University Residence Hall
- Comprehensive leadership and professional development workshops
- Private briefings with some of the nation’s most prominent public and private sector leaders
Celebrating 20 Years
For 20 years, the Institute has supported some of the best and brightest African American male college students in the country. They’ve become Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, PhDs, MDs, JDs, and most importantly, have continued to be the thoughtful, caring men they were in college.
On July 9, 2022, we brought together alumni, scholars, supporters, and friends to celebrate them and reflect on our 20-year history. We created this video as a recap of the evening.
What We Believe
- Men with the greatest potential should be challenged to pursue the highest achievement.
- Men who work hard to live virtuous lives and achieve academic success should be recognized and rewarded.
- Men who are destined for leadership should understand fundamental economic, constitutional, and ethical principles.
- Men who strive to make a difference can have a greater impact by working together.
- Men of character should be encouraged to pursue success as a platform for service to their communities, our nation, and the world.
Meet the Class of 2024
Benjamin Boateng
The College of William & Mary
Benjamin Boateng is a sophomore at the College of William and Mary, where he is pursuing a major in Sociology with a concentration in Globalization. He is a Monroe Scholar, the honor bestowed upon the College’s most distinguished students. In 2022, Benjamin co-authored with government Professor Christine Nemacheck a research paper that examined bias in juvenile sentencing. This project demonstrated his dedication to academic excellence and real-world impact. He aspires to attend law school and one day serve as a law professor after. Benjamin is a native of Locust Grove, Virginia.
Rashon Green
Columbia University
Rashon Green is pursuing degrees in Political Science and Sustainable Development at Columbia University. Before arriving at Columbia, Rashon earned an associate’s degree from Central Carolina Technical College. His academic achievements were widely recognized in high school, where he received several competitive scholarships, including the Horatio Alger National Scholarship, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship, and Ron Brown Scholar Program. At Columbia, he received a fellowship that enabled him to take part in a year-long journey of identity development, intercultural learning, and social justice education to help build bridges between Black and Jewish communities in New York City and across the South.
Jeremy Montrose
Hunter College
Jeremy Montrose attends Hunter College, where he majors in Political Science and Urban Studies. His minor is Economics. Jeremy is enrolled in the Roosevelt Scholars Honors Program which was created for incoming freshmen who demonstrate high academic potential and demonstrate significant interest in civic affairs. He is one of six students who have been selected as Eva Kastan Grove Fellows to work on a project that advances human rights. He recently won the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Competition, which measures intellectual prowess and the ability to convey weighty topics with ease and clarity. Previously, he interned with the Office of NYC Comptroller and the Association for a Better New York. Jeremy is a native of Queens, New York and plans to practice law and serve in government.
Ayomide Oloyede
Tufts University
Ayomide Oloyede is a sophomore at Tufts University, where he is pursuing majors in International Relations and Civic Studies, with a minor in French. Ayo is a Questbridge Scholar, which is a highly competitive award. He serves as a senator in the student government association and provides valuable insights to the university’s committee for undergraduate admissions and financial aid. Ayo interned last summer with the Congressional Black Caucus. While in high school, he founded Project Lunchtime, an initiative to address hunger in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia. The project has collected over 1,000 pounds of food and distributed meals to families in need. At Tufts, he continues this cause by serving on the university’s task force on food insecurity. Also while in high school, Ayo was named the best actor in the state of Georgia for two consecutive years. He plans to use his talents and experiences to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a United States Ambassador.
Sakiel Ruff
Cornell University
Sakiel Ruff is a sophomore at Cornell University, where he is majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations and minoring in Public Policy. He aspires to hold public office in the Empire State. He has gained important political experience by canvassing for a state senator and interning as a High Road Fellow in Buffalo, where he helped formerly incarcerated individuals secure housing. At Cornell, he leads an organization that supports and empowers Black men as they navigate the challenges of college. His talents extend beyond the community and campus, as evidenced by his victory in the BlackGen Capital National Stock Pitch at JP Morgan’s headquarters last spring. He hails from Baldwin, New York.
Charles-Anthony Woodfork
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Charles-Anthony Woodfork traveled across the country from San Francisco to enroll at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), where he is pursuing a degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences as one of 20 students in his cohort of the Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars Enrichment Program, a preeminent four-year full-merit award at N.C. A&T for those who demonstrate excellence in academics and leadership. He also is an active member of his Honors College. Charles-Anthony plans to pursue a career in public health and ultimately hopes to become Surgeon General of the United States. Recently, Charles-Anthony began conducting research for the American Heart Association. In addition to his academic pursuits, Charles-Anthony serves as a senator in the student government. He cites being a role model for his younger brothers as his highest motivation.
Imani Chabikuli
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Imani Chabikuli attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was one of the select number of incoming students who was awarded early admission to the Kenan-Flagler Business School. As a result, he majors in Business Administration and Biology. He was also awarded the Ferguson Carolina Scholarship and is a member of Honors Carolina. He is a singer and was selected to be president of the UNC Clef Hangers, one of the country’s preeminent collegiate acapella groups. He co-founded with his sister the Muruta Foundation, which raises money to support an orphanage and a girl’s school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Imani plans to pursue a career in healthcare management after graduation. He spent his formative years in Pretoria, South Africa, and now calls Chapel Hill, North Carolina home.
Timothy McLendon
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Timothy McLendon has earned a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average while studying Political Science and English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a recipient of the Fred Morrison Scholarship, which covers his full tuition as a member of the highly selective Honors Carolina program. Timothy was named a Will Froelich Fellow, which is awarded to only ten students within the Honors Carolina program. Timothy contributes to the student community by organizing community service events, mentoring fellow Honors students, and serving on the board of directors for Carolina Union. He also serves as a member of UNC’s Honor Court, upholding academic and disciplinary standards for his fellow students. Timothy spent last summer researching the impact of landmark court cases under the guidance of English Professor Stephanie DeGooyer. Timothy’s hometown is Mooresville, North Carolina.
Kirk Ogunrinde
Southern Methodist University
Kirk Ogunrinde attends Southern Methodist University, where he majors in Computer Science and Journalism. He is a Mustang Scholar and Rotunda Scholar recipient, which are among the university’s top academic honors. He writes for the SMU Daily and serves as the Vice President of SMU’s Association of Black Journalists. Additionally, he mentors first-year students through the university’s Student Engagement office and organizes professional development opportunities for his peers through the Hegi Career Leaders Program. Kirk hopes to use technology and data as a journalist to uncover stories that are often untold. Arlington, Texas is his hometown.
Joel Omolade
Tufts University
Joel Omolade is studying Political Science and Community Health at Tufts University. Witnessing the impact of COVID-19 in his hometown of the Bronx, New York inspired him to pursue a career at the intersection of public health and law, with the goal of advocating for communities that lack access to medical resources. In the summer of 2022, he published a report on the links between discrimination and obesity in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Joel also started a podcast on entrepreneurship. At Tufts, he serves as Senate Outreach Committee Chair for the Tufts Community Union, is the captain of the Mock Trial team, and participates with the Tufts Pre-Law Society.
Osiris Russell-Delano
Brown University
Osiris Russell-Delano is a political science major at Brown University. As a research assistant in the Department of Political Science, Osiris is currently working to republish abolitionist Hosea Easton’s 1837 treatise, under the guidance of political science Professor Melvin Rogers. He also serves as the Vice President of the Black Pre-Law Association, where he conducts professional development workshops. He aspires to become a civil rights attorney. He has already gained valuable experience in the field, having conducted legislative research and wrote policy briefs for two congressional candidates. Before enrolling at Brown, Osiris led his Mock Trial team at Phillips Exeter Academy to a state championship and received a state award for “top witness. He is also a gifted musician and poet, having amassed over 100,000 streams across platforms for his music. He proudly represents the Bronx as his hometown.
Christopher Wright
Harvard University
Christopher Wright is a sophomore government major at Harvard University. He benefits from the Jackie Robinson Scholarship. He has his sights set on a career in finance. Chris recently interned with a Boston-based venture capital firm focusing on sports among other related areas. His passion for sports also shines through in his work as a sportswriter for the Harvard Crimson, where he covers the women’s ice hockey team. Outside of his career interests, he demonstrates his leadership skills as Secretary of the Harvard Black Men’s Forum. He calls Gallatin, Tennessee home.