Eighteen undergraduates from Duke Kunshan University have been selected as 2025 Millennium Fellows, marking the fourth consecutive year that DKU students have earned places in the global leadership program.
The DKU fellows will work virtually with more than 4,000 students from 47 nations over the course of six sessions during the 2025 fall semester to turn bold ideas into real-world impact. Through mentorship, leadership training, and peer collaboration, they will develop projects that advance the U.N.’s sustainable development goals, which include global health, inclusive education, mental health, and social equity.
Organized by the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network, the program is highly competitive, with only 6.7 percent of applicant campuses chosen to send students this year.
The 18 fellows from DKU represent the classes of 2026 through 2028. Among them, Class of 2026 student Tanan-Erdene Purevdorj from Mongolia and Class of 2028 student Zhuo’er Chen have been named co-directors of the DKU Millennium Fellowship cohort.
Purevdorj, who studies global health and public policy, said her work focuses on the links between healthcare access and social inequality.
“Studying global health has helped me realize that social structures and policy decisions deeply shape access to healthcare,” she said. “Addressing these challenges requires rigorous research and evidence-based solutions that ensure everyone can live a healthy and dignified life.”
Chen’s project centers on disability inclusion through curation, community engagement, and public dialogue.
“Through exhibitions and workshops, I want to create spaces where people from different backgrounds can exchange ideas and rethink what ‘accessibility’ and ‘inclusion’ truly mean,” Chen said. “Leading the team has taught me to listen, guide, and collaborate rather than rush to conclusions.”
Assistant Professor of Health Policy Meifang Chen, who advises DKU students applying for the program, said the Millennium Fellowship provides a global platform for students to transform their classroom learning into meaningful social action.
“It’s inspiring to see our students connect academic knowledge with real-world impact,” she said. “The program helps them develop leadership skills, cross-cultural understanding, and a sense of social responsibility.”
“These Millennium Fellows embody the very essence of Duke Kunshan — bridging cultures, breaking boundaries, and seeking solutions that truly matter,” said Executive Vice Chancellor John Quelch. “In a world facing complex global challenges, they remind us that the most powerful solutions begin with empathy and collaboration. They are not just future leaders — they are already leading change.”
“Such success is not a coincidence,” added Chancellor Yaolin Liu. “It reflects our students’ genuine strength and the university’s enduring commitment to nurturing socially engaged global citizens. I hope our Millennium Fellows will continue to turn knowledge into action and inspire others to work together for a better world.”
