Benjamin Leong
2026 Pelosi Scholar
Class of 2027
Major: International Politics
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV/San Francisco, CA
Benjamin is interested in the humanitarian–development nexus in Africa, especially local empowerment in forced-displacement settings. He explores these issues as an International Programs Intern with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and as an SFS Undergraduate Scholar in African Studies, where he examines alternative histories of Nigerian development and civil society. His interest deepened during an SFS Centennial Lab trip to Egypt, where he observed how NGOs navigate competing stakeholder priorities to serve the needs of civil society.
He aims to work with multilateral or non-governmental organizations that address development challenges through locally driven approaches. Drawing on his experience with USCRI and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s immigration portfolio, he hopes to gain insight into how multilateral institutions and community-based organizations operate in this evolving space. Benjamin looks forward to strengthening his professional skills and building meaningful connections within the Pelosi Scholars cohort in service of global public service and impact.