Gezi Fang ‘26GS, an economics major and rising senior in the Joint Bachelor's Degree Program, is one of 21 Columbia undergraduates selected for the 2025 Millennium Fellowship, a United Nations facilitated semester-long program where students participate in leadership training and community engagement to develop social impact projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Fang was recognized for her project, “Bridging Forward” which aims to empower nontraditional students to access higher education—including those from low-income, first generation, immigrant, and international backgrounds—by offering mentorship and support to help them navigate academic, financial, and personal challenges and commitments.
“Through the Millennium Fellowship, I hope to formally launch the “Bridging Forward” platform and use my personal experiences to support others with similar non-traditional educational journeys. I aspire to build a sustainable network that empowers underrepresented students and helps bridge gaps in access to education. I also hope to connect with peers facing similar challenges to gain deeper insight into systemic barriers and learn how to address educational inequality in a way that truly meets individuals where they are,” she said.
The Millennium Fellowship is presented by the United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network. Read more about the Millennium Fellowship.
