The Presidential Global Fellowship program, which began this year with a seed grant from President Lee C. Bollinger, gives rising sophomores the opportunity to explore their interests during a summer abroad at or near one of Columbia’s nine Global Centers. The fellowship covers the fee associated with a Columbia global program and provides a stipend to cover round-trip airfare and living expenses for two months. The fellowship is unique among Columbia global initiatives in that it includes a group orientation and specialized advising sessions to help fellows collectively identify how their global opportunities can enhance their experiences at Columbia and their intellectual, professional and personal goals. It also includes special meetings with President Bollinger to develop their thinking about global education and fellows’ development as global citizens. During the inaugural summer, 12 Columbia undergraduates, including nine College students, received Presidential Global Fellowships to study in Shanghai, China; Amman, Jordan; the Atlantic State Park in Brazil; Paris, France; Venice, Italy; and Beijing, China.