On July 1, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will welcome 80 undergraduate women representing 21 countries and 20 U.S. student mentors to the Department of State for the official launch of the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership. Entitled “Women Embracing Leadership and Service,” this one-day conference will kickoff the five-week academic exchange programs examining the history and participation of women in public life in the United States.

The SUSIs on Women’s Leadership will develop participants’ leadership skills in critical thinking, communication, decision-making, and management and place these abilities in the context of the history and participation of women in U.S. politics, economics, culture, and society to better equip participants to make an impact in their home communities. The programs will also examine women’s historical progress toward equality in the United States, and the domestic and global successes and challenges women face in a variety of fields.

After the opening conference, participants will travel in cohorts of 20 to Green River Community College (Washington), Saint Mary’s College (Indiana), Simmons College (Massachusetts), and the University of Kansas. The participants come from Afghanistan, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Zambia.

Study of the U.S. Institutes are five-week academic exchange programs for foreign undergraduate leaders sponsored by the Department of State. Hosted by U.S. academic institutions throughout the United States, all SUSIs include an intensive academic component, an educational tour of other regions of the country, local community service activities, leadership skill building, and a unique opportunity for participants to get to know their American peers.

Follow the SUSI Women’s Leadership Conference on Twitter at @StudyoftheUS and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StudyoftheUS. The attendees will be using hashtag #SUSIWomen. For further information and press inquiries, please contact ECA Press at eca-press@state.gov.