Leadership and Exchanges

The Asia Foundation Development Fellows program is a dynamic and multifaceted learning program designed for highly talented individuals under 40 from Asia and the Pacific to enhance their leadership skills, regional development knowledge, professional networks, and international exposure. The program reflects TAF’s seven-decade investment in the most promising future leaders in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 2014, the program has built a robust network of close to 150 current fellows and alumni.

Change today requires people-centered leaders with the capacity to work across disciplines, navigate complexity, and operate cross-culturally. Through a unique program design that facilitates cross-cultural exchange between fellows from the US and Asia, LeadNext builds a vibrant network of future leaders aged 18–25 from across Asia and the Pacific, and the United States and supports their growth, impact, and capacity to address today’s greatest challenges.

The Young Asian Diplomats Program connects rising diplomats from Asia and the Pacific with U.S. policy leaders, institutions, and peers to strengthen the relationships and practical skills needed for today’s diplomacy. Through intensive dialogue, leadership development, and firsthand exposure to U.S. foreign and domestic policymaking, the program helps emerging foreign affairs leaders deepen mutual understanding and build lasting networks that support cooperation across regions.

The evolving complexity of subnational conflicts in the 21st century demands investment in a new generation of leaders who can innovate and drive solutions for peace. The William P. Fuller Fellowship in Peacebuilding is dedicated to the professional development of the next generation of leaders addressing conflict and peacebuilding in Asia and the Pacific.

The Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art supports early-career contemporary art curators through a three-month residency at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Offered every other year, the fellowship brings two emerging curators from Asia and the United States into the museum’s Contemporary Art department, where they contribute to projects and events, develop original work, and deepen their curatorial practice.

The Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Fellowship Program honors the achievements of the late Dr. Chang-Lin Tien, former chair of TAF’s board of trustees and former chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley. The program fosters dialogue and understanding between Asians and Americans noted for their contributions in government, business, academia, media, and the arts. The fellowship is in keeping with TAF’s interest in facilitating a collegial network of professionals with leadership potential and with established leaders throughout Asia and the Pacific.

The Luce Scholars Program is a competitive and prestigious leadership development fellowship that provides emerging American leaders with immersive professional experiences in Asia. Established in 1974 by the Henry Luce Foundation, the program strengthens relationships across borders by offering scholars opportunities to deepen their understanding of Asia’s countries, cultures, and people. Through this yearlong immersion, the program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.