Frequently Asked Questions

Emerging World Leaders (EWL) is a program at the Boston University School of Public Health that supports early-career public health professionals in building leadership skills, expanding their professional networks, and receiving career mentorship.

No. While PhD and DrPH students in BUSPH may participate as part of an annual Senior Fellows cohort (formerly known as Mentees), there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with EWL regardless of your role at SPH! Master’s students are encouraged to join EWL Fellows, a semester-long program for in-person BUSPH master’s students! Furthermore, many of our events are open to the entire BUSPH community; check out our Upcoming Events page for more!

No. EWL welcomes BUSPH students from all public health disciplines and concentrations, regardless of previous professional experience.

Joining EWL connects you with a global network of public health professionals, offering direct access to mentorship, leadership training, and professional development. You gain opportunities to expand your network, participate in targeted seminars, walk-in mentor office hours, and a supportive community.

No. Many EWL events, such as public panel discussions, leadership seminars, and networking sessions, are open to the entire public health community without requiring formal program enrollment. See our Upcoming Events page for more information.

Mentors are selected based on their established expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to supporting early-career public health professionals. They are carefully matched with EWL Senior Fellows (formerly known as Mentees) according to shared professional interests, career goals, public health focus areas, and specific mentorship needs to foster meaningful and effective guidance.

Yes. Although formal structured mentorship activities wrap up at the end of the program, many mentorship pairs continue their professional relationship informally. Additionally, all program graduates remain part of the broader EWL global network, allowing you to stay connected through ongoing community events, networking platforms, and collaborative opportunities.

Time commitments depend on your role in the program. For master’s students in the EWL Fellows Program, the commitment is one semester, requiring attendance at a minimum of three EWL leadership and mentorship events. PhD and DrPH students enrolled in EWL Senior Fellows (formerly known as Mentees) commit to a full-year cohort. For general participants, the commitment is flexible and depends on the specific events, seminars, or activities you choose to attend.

If you anticipate difficulties meeting program requirements (such as attending required events), you should contact the EWL program administrators as soon as possible. Depending on your situation, program staff can help explore accommodations, alternative event options, or adjustments to ensure you stay on track or defer your participation to a future semester.

Both full- and part-time students enrolled at BU SPH are eligible to participate in EWL programs. However, program qualifications currently require students to be enrolled in-person to participate in the Fellows and Senior Fellows Programs. Online students can take advantage of many EWL events that are open to the entire EWL community and hosted online; see our Upcoming Events page for more information.