Humphrey Fellows
2024-2025 cohort
Vagner de Alencar Brazil
Vagner de Alencar is a multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience in local journalism and education. He holds a communications degree from Presbyterian Mackenzie University and a master’s and a doctorate in education from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. He is the co-founder and director of journalism at Agência Mural, a nonprofit news organization focused on covering marginalized communities in São Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, he is the author of the book “City of Paradise — There Is Life in São Paulo’s Largest Favela” and has received awards such as the Fernando Pacheco Jordão Young Journalist Award and the Sebrae Journalism Award. He has worked as an educator and as a journalist for national and international organizations, with a particular focus on education issues. In 2017, he represented Brazil in the IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program) sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, showcasing his leadership skills globally.
Nurit Canetti Israel
Nurit Canetti is an award-winning journalist and renowned radio news and current affairs anchorwoman in Israel. For 13 years, she served as editor-in-chief of the daily news talk show “What’s Cooking?” at Galei Zahal - Public Radio, one of Israel’s most influential radio shows. Additionally, Canetti chaired the Israeli Journalists Association, which she helped found in 2011, advocating for the rights of approximately 3,000 journalists and promoting press freedom. Canetti has also reported for various news desks and contributed articles and opinion columns to renowned Israeli newspapers and magazines. She produced and hosted documentaries on a wide range of issues. Canetti was a lecturer and tutor in mass communications and journalism at several academic schools. In 2021, she received the B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism, recognizing her journalism excellence and contributions to the state of Israel-World Jewry relations in Israeli media. She was rewarded twice for the best radio show at her home station. As a lawyer, Canetti holds academic degrees in literature, history, and law and a master’s degree in public policy.
Bojana Dabovic Montenegro
Bojana Dabovic is a seasoned journalist and editor spearheading a central news program at RTV Podgorica, Montenegro’s public local broadcaster. Her career journey embodies a versatile blend of experiences across the private and public sectors. Beginning at Television 777 in 2011, she swiftly transitioned into roles as a marketing manager and later as a corporate and airline catering manager. From 2016 to 2020, she served as an advisor to the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, honing her public affairs and diplomacy expertise. Dabovic is a distinguished alumna of prestigious programs, including the “European and International Affairs” program at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna and the U.S. State Department’s IVLP program. Complementing her extensive professional journey are certifications as a media literacy trainer in Montenegro and participating in various European Union trainings focused on intercultural dialogue and human rights.
Nkosikhona Dibiti Zimbabwe
Nkosikhona Dibiti is the Founder and Executive Director of Community Podium, a nonprofit participatory media organization dedicated to providing support for content creators and creating inclusive platforms for the voices of marginalized communities to be heard in southern Zimbabwe. He is a trained journalist with 12 years of experience in communications strategy, media advocacy, social media content production, and external media communications. He is also a media entrepreneur, innovator, trainer, and a substantial contributor to empowering young people in media and communication. He holds various positions of responsibility as a board member in three nonprofit organizations in Zimbabwe. Community Podium has recorded significant milestones in the last four years, with some news articles winning awards, such as the Best Sustainable Forest Management story in Zimbabwe, and having stories republished by renowned newsrooms such as The Independent UK. In 2023, Community Podium was nominated to participate in the International Press Institute Local News Accelerator.
Emese Dudics
Hungary
Emese Dudics is a Hungarian award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience. She began her career at a daily newspaper before becoming the main editor of a health magazine, where she received several journalism awards. Currently, she works at Central Mediacsoport Zrt. as a journalist for Nők Lapja, a 75-year-old weekly women’s magazine, covering various topics from everyday matters to social and psychological issues. Dudics gained recognition for her interview with Katalin Kariko, the first Hungarian woman to win the Nobel Prize. She is dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women. She enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and experimenting with new recipes in her free time. Dudics is also a proud mother of one daughter.
Moses Havyarimana Burundi
Moses Havyarimana is a Burundian multimedia journalist specializing in political, social, and economic issues in Burundi and East Africa. He began his journalism career with Burundi National Radio and Television (RTNB), focusing on critical East African community matters. He later joined the Nation Media Group as a special correspondent for The East African. Subsequently, he freelanced for Voice of America (VOA), covering political and social issues, and started working as a freelance video journalist for Al Jazeera during Burundi’s first referendum. He also wrote for GAVI on vaccination and health stories from Burundi and created video packages for TRT World. Notably, he covered Burundi’s political crisis and elections, highlighting human rights abuses and the refugee crisis. He received the prestigious COMESA Best Radio Reporter award.
Jean Paul Ibambe Rwanda
Jean Paul Ibambe is a Rwandan human rights activist and lawyer specializing in media laws, freedom of expression, and human rights. With over 15 years of experience in journalism, media regulation, law practice, and human rights promotion, he defends journalists in legal battles through litigation and constitutional petitions. A founding member of H-I LEX Partners, a law firm established in Kigali, he has also served as a Legal Advisor at the Rwanda Media Commission. Ibambe is currently with The Legal Aid Forum, a Rwandan NGO, and he advocates for the decriminalization of defamation and responsible freedom of expression. He is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East African Law Society. As a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Arizona State University, he plans to create a Freedom of Expression Institute of Rwanda, focusing on legal representation for journalists, research and advocacy, and law reforms.
Lyudmil Karavasilev Bulgaria
Lyudmil Karavasilev is a communications professional with a strong background in corporate communications, stakeholder and institutional relations, sponsorship, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and event management. He advises the Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water. He leads communication and fundraising projects for the BCause Foundation, a professional philanthropy organization that develops CSR and sustainability programs for companies. Karavasilev has considerable experience as a PR officer in the banking sector, trade, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as for sports and cultural organizations. He holds a master’s degree from Sofia University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. He co-authored a study and article, “Models of Public Relations in Bulgaria and Job Satisfaction among Its Practitioners,” published in the US Public Relations Review in June 2000. He is also a columnist for the Bulgarian “24 Hours” daily newspaper and co-authored a book, “History of Sofia Commodity Exchange.”
Jaehee Kim South Korea
Jaehee Kim has been a journalist at the century-old South Korean media company Dong-a Media Group since 2015. She is an award-winning investigative journalist, covering stories of immigrants facing racial discrimination in South Korea and crime victims of arson and homicide. As a cinephile, she mainly covered the film and K-pop industries. She curated a segment called “EnterView” in a newspaper, interviewing Korean entertainment experts and conducting exclusive interviews with global figures, including Grammy-winning musicians. A hybrid journalist, she has experience with both traditional newspaper formats and social media formats. Kim was a former YouTuber with 25,000 followers and currently manages an Instagram account titled “BreakFirst_newsletter,” where she shares interviews exploring the stories of individuals who have overcome inertia to make breakthroughs in various industries. Kim pursues the goal to fathom the unfathomable areas of human beings by building strong rapport and engaging in in-depth conversations with interviewees.
Kouadio Côte d’Ivoire
Maud Kouadio is an expert in communication and marketing with seven years of experience in content creation, event coordination, and project management. As the president of Empowering Women in Africa (EWA), an NGO based in Côte d’Ivoire, she is dedicated to empowering women through education. Under her leadership, EWA has re-enrolled 56 girls in school, provided free training to 19 young women, and offered psychological support to more than 1,000 girls. Kouadio is committed to ensuring every girl has access to quality education, regardless of her background. She invites people to join her journey of empowerment, where every action speaks to the limitless potential of the human spirit. She aims to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future where every woman and girl can thrive and shine.
Oumar Zombre
Burkina Faso
Oumar Zombre is an experienced journalist, news anchor, and communications specialist with over a decade of experience. From 2009 to 2022, he worked at RTB in Burkina Faso, specializing in investigative journalism, conflict reporting, documentaries, and feature stories. His excellence in these fields earned him prestigious awards, including a continental prize for investigative journalism. Zombre has collaborated with major international media, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Telegraph, National Geographic, Financial Times, and The Guardian. In 2021-2022, he contributed to the Associated Press in Burkina Faso. Beyond journalism, he is passionate about literature, culture, and the arts and has written a novel and a political essay. He holds a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy, a diploma in journalism from the Institut d’Etat des Journalistes ISTIC, and a degree in international public relations from Université Libre du Burkina.
Maud
A leader is one who summons the best from others, as he calls upon the best within himself, to join in the common cause and the common purpose.
— Hubert
H. Humphrey
Hubert H. Humphrey was a lifelong advocate of programs fostering human rights and international understanding. These fellowships were established to honor his memory and to continue his ideals.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Humphrey Fellowship Program is a Fulbright exchange program funded by the U.S. Congress since 1978. It is named in honor of the late vice president and U.S. senator from Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey with the goal of providing professional enrichment and non-degree studies at American universities to experienced professionals from around the world. There are only 13 Humphrey Fellowship programs from a wide variety of disciplines in the U.S. These Humphrey programs bring around 150 Fellows to U.S. host universities like ASU’s Cronkite School each year under the auspices of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and its partner, Institute of International Education. The program helps build lasting ties through independently designed programs unique to each university. Since 1978, more than 6,400 Fellows from 163 countries have participated in the program, with over 40 universities hosting the Fellows for their year of study.
The Humphrey Fellowship at Arizona State University
Since 2010, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has welcomed 137 Fellows in 13 cohorts from 70 countries. The program hosts mid-career journalists and professional communicators from designated countries to come to the U.S. to participate in an intensive 10-month program offering professional development and experience. Humphrey Fellows at ASU live in Phoenix, participate in academic studies, develop professional affiliations and friendships, receive mentoring from Cronkite faculty and experience cultural exchanges with their U.S. counterparts at ASU and the greater Arizona community. The Cronkite School is honored to be the current journalism and mass communication school in the U.S. to host a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship.
Cronkite Global Initiatives connects Cronkite students, staff and faculty with international media professionals, scholars and citizens.
With primary support from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Administered by the Institute of International Education
1400 K St., NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-686-8664
hhh@iie.org • humphreyfellowship.org
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at Arizona State University
555 N. Central Ave., Suite 430 Phoenix, AZ 85004-1248 cronkite.asu.edu/humphrey
Photos by W. Scott Mitchell