We are pleased to welcome the Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 Richard W. Pogue Fellows: Barbara Barreno-Paschall, George Bukenya, Eli Kalil, Susan Kuilder, and Galia Nurko.

Barbara Barreno-Paschall is an attorney and policy advocate who is passionate about civil and human rights and helping communities thrive. Since 2024, she has served as a Senior Attorney with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in the Economic Justice Group.  She is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a 2023 German Marshall Fund Marshall Memorial Fellow. Her goals for the Pogue Fellowship are to develop lifelong friendships with people who care deeply about strengthening ties between the United States and other nations and learn insights from the speaker forums that will help her become a more effective citizen diplomat and leader in the communities she serves.

George Bukenya is a dedicated research scientist at the Cleveland Clinic, where he conducts cutting-edge research on novel therapies for Glioblastoma. As a co-founder of the Health and Wellness Series and a mentor with the Provost Scholars Program at Case Western Reserve University, he has actively worked to enhance health-related decision-making and educational opportunities in underserved communities. On the verge of entering medical school, George is committed to improving clinical outcomes by addressing systemic challenges in national and international healthcare. Through the Pogue Fellowship, he aims to deepen his understanding of global health dynamics and develop sustainable solutions to enhance healthcare delivery worldwide.

Eli Kalil is the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Facility Space Coordinator and Planner. A two-time Kent State University alum, he studied Applied Communication in undergrad and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Eli is also an alum of the Presidential Management Fellows program, the federal government’s flagship pathways program. As a Pogue Fellow, Eli hopes to become a more internationally aware and engaged citizen, innovative leader, and gain a better understanding of how international dynamics and foreign policy are contributors to how we operate here in Cleveland and across the country.

Susan Kuilder is the Experiential Marketing Manager at Marshberry. She also serves on the Board of Directors for The Circle, the Cleveland Orchestra's membership group for young professionals. She is a member of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, serving on their Young Professionals Advisory Committee and as a Citizen Diplomat. She devotes her time to the advisory panel for Pope's Cocktails, managing social media for The Vatican, and creating interactive experiences as an emcee for Real Popfusion. She strives to make Cleveland a more engaging and interesting place for us all. Kuilder is most excited to be a part of the global impact conversations happening in Cleveland.

Galia Nurko has been working at the intersection of international relations, technology, and communications for nearly 15 years. Currently, she serves as the Director of Strategy and Development for the Global Cyber Alliance, a nonprofit that seeks to make the Internet safer for all. Prior to that experience, Galia spent 5 years working as a Cybersecurity Specialist at DAI, where she proactively built the company’s digital risk portfolio by conducting extensive research, establishing strategic partnerships, ultimately securing USAID’s first and second bilateral contracts focusing on cybersecurity capacity building in Ukraine and the Western Balkans.

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 2023-2024 Richard W. Pogue Fellows