AMERICAN SWISS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE CLASS OF 2026 – 2027 INNOVATION FELLOWS

BOSTON, MA, UNITED STATES, October 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The American Swiss Foundation (ASF) is proud to introduce its 2026–2027 Innovation Fellows, a cohort of 13 U.S. mayors participating in the second year of ASF’s Innovation Forum at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

This year’s Fellows convened on October 15 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to explore “Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow.” Through discussions with peers and experts across sectors, the Forum strengthens transatlantic relationships and encourages practical approaches to shared workforce challenges.

ASF gratefully acknowledges program sponsors Aon and Swiss International Air Lines, and program partners Basel Area Business & Innovation, ETH Foundation, Greater Zurich Area, Leading Cities, SwissImpact, and Swissnex in Boston and New York, whose generous support makes the Innovation Forum possible.

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2026 – 2027 Innovation Fellows

Senior Fellows
Mayor Quinton Lucas (Young Leader 2023), Mayor, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes (ASF Innovation Fellow 2025-2026), Director & State Secretary of Labor, Department of Employment Services, District of Columbia
Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann (Young Leader 2006), Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina

Mayor Malik D. Evans, Mayor, City of Rochester, New York
Mayor Carmalitha L. Gumbs, Mayor, City of South Fulton, Georgia
Mayor Tim Keller, Mayor, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mayor Timothy A. Kelly, Mayor, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Mayor, City of Vancouver, Washington
Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Mayor, City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Mayor Jared C. Nicholson, Mayor, City of Lynn, Massachusetts
Mayor D.C. Reeves, Mayor, City of Pensacola, Florida
Mayor Debra Wimpee, Mayor, City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Mayor Lily Wu, Mayor, City of Wichita, Kansas

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About the American Swiss Foundation

Founded in 1945 in response to World War II, the Foundation’s mission is to connect and engage Swiss and American leaders. Towards the end of the 20th century, two former U.S. Ambassadors to Switzerland, Shelby Cullom Davis and Faith Whittlesey, ushered in a new era for the small organization. They ultimately transformed the Foundation from an organization that was primarily social to one that focused on nurturing and investing in the next generation of leaders in both countries.

In 1975, Ambassador Davis assumed an active leadership role with the Foundation. He served as chairman and president until 1989, and as honorary chairman until his passing in 1994. In 1989, Ambassador Whittlesey became chairman and president of the Foundation and launched the organization’s flagship program, the Young Leaders Conference.

Today, Alumni of the past 35 conferences now number more than 1,800 leaders who shape the futures of the two countries, including members of U.S. Congress and Swiss parliamentarians, entrepreneurs and business executives, media professionals, and public policy experts.

Vanessa Beary, Executive Director
American Swiss Foundation
info@americanswiss.org
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