We are pleased to welcome the Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ 2023-2024 Richard W. Pogue Fellows. The Fellowship offers emerging leaders in our community the opportunity to participate in in-depth foreign policy discussions and network with other internationally-minded business and civic leaders in our community through participation in the Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations (CCFR).

“The Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations is a forum for globally curious members to learn about our role in the world and the impact of the world on our lives here in Cleveland. We are excited to welcome our Fellows to add their voices to the conversation, to broaden their global mindset, and to join the community of globally-minded civic and business leaders in Northeast Ohio,” says Carina Van Vliet, CCWA’s Chief Executive Officer.

We are pleased to introduce our 2023-2024 Richard W. Pogue Fellows: Chanell Elston, Larissa Harris, Ethan Isaacson, Dean Jackson and Joshua White.

Chanell Elston is Councilwoman for the City of South Euclid and Social Worker at the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is a civically active emerging leader and deeply committed to public service. Engagement in world affairs is important to her because she believes that regardless of our zip codes, we are all impacted by the same global forces, and that issues of the world are, in fact, issues of our communities. She hopes that the fellowship will allow her to develop a greater understanding of the broader societal issues we face, and to challenge her own thinking.

Larissa (Rissa) Harris is International Trade Specialist at U.S. Department of Commerce and recipient of the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship. From CCWA’s Pogue fellowship, she hopes to gain new perspectives and learn more about international affairs topics that will inform her work and her career: she hopes to help Northern Ohio businesses export and grow internationally more effectively when she has a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges that they are facing in international markets. She believes it is important to engage in world affairs conversations to be an informed citizen and an impactful public servant.

Ethan Isaacson is Attorney, and Founder and CEO of LegalEase-Tech, Inc., a legal technology software company. As a legal professional and entrepreneur, he recognizes the value of understanding the global landscape to identify potential risks, opportunities, and effective solutions to complex problems. His goal for the fellowship experience is to help foster positive change in both our local Cleveland community and the world at large. He is eager to deepen his understanding of foreign policy, expand his professional network, and participate in thought-provoking discussions.

Dean Jackson is Principal at Public Circle Research & Consulting. He is an International Affairs professional with ten years of think tank experience in Washington, DC. The focus of his research includes democratic development, technology in international affairs, and disinformation as a global challenge. After moving back to Cleveland, he is excited to make connections with other internationally minded people in our community through the fellowship experience. Dean believes that having an international perspective makes one a wiser observer of local events and a more versatile human being.

Joshua White is College Success Advisor at Esperanza, empowering Latin-x students with the necessary resources to succeed professionally. Previously, he was Taiwanese Government Scholar at National Taiwan University, worked as Legislative Analyst for the State of Hawaii, and participated as Louis Stokes Legal Fellow here in Cleveland.  As a multi-cultural, multi-lingual citizen of the world, his goal has always been to pursue a career that combines his commitment for public service with globalized advancement. He is excited to join the Fellowship to expand his affinity and awareness of the everchanging international world, and to broaden his global mindset within the local community.

The fellowship is named after Richard W. Pogue, civic leader and Senior Advisor at Jones Day, in recognition of his more than 60 years as a member of CCWA. The fellowship program is supported by funding from the Kulas Foundation.

To learn more about the Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations, or to join as a member, please click here.

For more information, contact Jenni Carney, Senior Director of Development and Marketing, at (216) 255-9005 or jcarney@ccwa.org.

*Photo above: CCWA’s 2022-2023 Richard W. Pogue Fellows