St. Olaf student named Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow
St. Olaf College student Bobby Isbell ’21 has been named a member of the 2019 class of Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows.
This selective fellowship is a fully funded six-week summer institute for rising college juniors that is inspired by George Washington and today’s foremost leaders.
Isbell is one of 14 high-achieving students from across the nation selected for the program. He is an economics and political science major at St. Olaf, where he plays for the baseball team and sings with Chapel Choir. He also serves on the Student Congregation Council and is a member of the Ole Leadership Academy.
While living and learning at the Mount Vernon estate owned by George Washington, fellows will engage in a vibrant educational curriculum and interact with top government, military, corporate, and nonprofit leaders.
“As a Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow, they study the qualities that made George Washington an unparalleled leader and incorporate those successful techniques into their own leadership style,” Mount Vernon President Douglas Bradburn says.
As part of the program, each fellow will design a capstone project centered around an issue they are passionate about on their campus or in their community. Each fellow is then matched with a mentor to help support and guide their projects. Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows will also study George Washington’s character, inspirational leadership, and vision — all essential to his success as a statesman, entrepreneur, and military leader.
“From the moment I first learned about the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
“From the moment I first learned about the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Isbell says. “I am so thankful to the Mount Vernon staff for the opportunity to learn from so many amazing leaders and be immersed in the life of George Washington. I can’t wait to get started!”
The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows program is made possible through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein. This year the program attracted more than 800 applicants from 43 states and the District of Columbia.