Support the InstituteAfter months of review, the inaugural class of The Bergel Institute Fellows has been selected. We want to thank everyone who applied for this year's Fellowships. In total, we received 653 applications, nearly ten times more than we expected, and the number of innovative ideas and talented individuals was inspiring.
In the end, we are proud to present the four winners of the Institute's 2026–2027 Fellowships, individuals who we believe will fundamentally change the way we address human trafficking, employment and economic stability, and youth mentoring.
Every 15 minutes, a child is abducted in India. Dr. Abdul Rahman will utilize the Bergel Fellowship to operationalize an AI platform that will enable law enforcement to get ahead of child trafficking networks. Through the development of predictive algorithms and heatmaps, her platform will transform overwhelmed agencies from reactive responders into proactive protectors.
How do workforce development systems — across schools, juvenile justice agencies, mayor's offices, and community colleges — structure economic opportunity, and how can AI be used to correct embedded bias in those decision processes? That's what Dr. Fatiregun will answer with the time and structure afforded by the Bergel Fellowship.
Transforming a historically volunteer endeavor into a stable and wealth-building profession for those with lived experience — that is the charge for Andy and Kate as Bergel Fellows. Drawing on their experience leading mentorship programs, their efforts will also give youth the long-term support they need to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
We look forward to supporting these fellows as they pursue bold ideas and innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. We hope you will follow their innovative work and support their journeys and the work of The Bergel Institute in the coming season. For more information on our Fellowships or any of the work of the Institute, email info@bergelinstitute.org.
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