Knight-Hennessy Annual Report 2024-25

Letter from the Directors

At Knight-Hennessy Scholars, our mission is to prepare visionary leaders who can navigate complexity, bridge differences, and drive positive change. Each year, we design our programming with care, guided by four principles: leadership education, diversity of ideas and cultures, scholar connections, and experiential learning.

Our quarterly themes grow from these principles and are rooted in both global issues and the personal journeys of our scholars. Recent themes have ranged from different models of leadership and governance around the world to the impact of emerging technology. We also create space for reflection on personal topics such as career paths and choices and building trusting relationships. These themes allow scholars to learn from Stanford faculty and external experts and to think broadly, learn from one another, and develop their leadership skills in real-world contexts.

While leadership programs form the core of the scholar experience, the enduring strength of KHS is in the connections forged among scholars — as friends, collaborators, and lifelong mentors. We celebrate a growing body of 235 alumni, who are advancing research, medicine, and technology, building organizations, and shaping policy across sectors and continents. Their impact reminds us of the enduring value of this community. You can learn about four of these alumni in this recent video. Selecting each cohort is a critical part of our mission, and we are delighted to welcome Adam Sapp as our new director of admission.

We also recognize the financial realities facing Stanford and higher education more broadly. In this environment, we are stewarding our resources with prudence, which includes growing our cohort sizes slowly for the foreseeable future. Within these constraints, our commitment to excellence in leadership development remains steadfast.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Your belief in the power of this community enables us to invest in the next generation of leaders who will take on the world’s most pressing challenges. For this, we are deeply grateful.

With appreciation,

John L. Hennessy
Shriram Family Director

Tina L. Seelig
Executive Director

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Inspiring Leaders

Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship program spanning all seven schools at Stanford University. All Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world. KHS programming complements scholars’ graduate studies and prepares them to take on leadership roles in academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and the community at large.

As the largest, university-wide, fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world, KHS is situated on the Stanford campus in Denning House, its dedicated convening space nestled in a grove of live oak trees. With its seven leading schools on a single campus, Stanford is a world-class institution with a strong legacy of innovation.

How Scholars Benefit

Through KHS, scholars have an opportunity to elevate their Stanford graduate school experience. We consistently hear that KHS is a transformative time for them, due to:

Community

Scholars join a community of people representing a vast array of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. They learn from one another, foster meaningful connections, and build lasting friendships.

Experience

The opportunities KHS offers enrich scholars’ academic studies and personal development. The programming inspires deep introspection, self-understanding, and, when combined with graduate school, prepares scholars to address the most challenging issues facing our world.

Leadership Development

All programming is built upon the KHS Leadership Model, designed to promote and develop the traits and behaviors of leaders who possess a strong multidisciplinary and multicultural perspective, as well as a commitment to the greater good and the tools to drive meaningful change.

Transformation

Exposing scholars to new people, ideas, and ways of thinking serves as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation — inspiring scholars to dream bigger.

Impact

KHS scholars complement their field of study with the essential skills and perspective to scale their contribution. KHS's unique environment fosters deeper and broader thinking about pressing issues and solutions. When scholars take that learning and perspective to their chosen field, they are equipped to make a significant impact in the world.

Scholar Close-Up

Monique Santoso

PhD in Communication
2024 cohort
Purwakarta, Java, Indonesia

Monique Santoso is fostering empathy for climate change impact through virtual reality.

What are you working on at Stanford?

As a child, I was highly aware of how climate change affected my community, and me personally. Today, I conduct virtual reality (VR) research and integrate large language models in VR to help people viscerally experience climate change impacts.

At Stanford, I was especially drawn to the Virtual Human Interaction Lab to study the psychological mechanisms behind immersive experiences. I was also excited about the interdisciplinary opportunities at the Doerr School of Sustainability and the Center for Ocean Solutions. These programs have provided both the theoretical grounding and collaborative environments I needed to rigorously explore how emerging technologies can foster cross-cultural empathy and inspire collective climate action.

Do you have an example of how Knight-Hennessy has had an impact on you?

During a winter retreat, I was paired with a scholar who was working on climate justice in the Bay Area. Our conversations helped me reimagine how partnering with community organizations could shape my research and, in turn, strengthen my leadership skills, opening doors to opportunities I hadn’t previously considered.

What does a day in your life look like?

I work at the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, where I run VR experiments. I also serve as an instructor for a course on VR and human behavior. It's been eye-opening to learn how to translate complex research concepts for over 100 undergraduate students and to watch them discover how immersive technology can be used to address critical social issues.

Denning House has been a really special place for me to build community, over lunch and at events. For example, along with another KH scholar, I organized a Winter Cultures event last fall where we came together over food, fellowship and reflection.

The leadership development at Knight-Hennessy has been transformative. Through various Knight-Hennessy workshops and events, I've learned a great deal about the science of communication.

Admission

In May, KHS announced its 2025 cohort of 82 new scholars, bringing the total scholar count to 595. The eighth cohort comprises students from 23 countries who will pursue degrees in 45 graduate programs across all seven graduate schools at Stanford. Among the 38 different U.S. institutions the admitted scholars attended, eight were new to KHS this year. From the 18 institutions outside the U.S., ten were new.

All Scholars: 2018-2025 Cohorts

595

scholars to date

45%

hold a non-U.S. passport

51%

of U.S. citizen/resident scholars identify as a person of color

17%

first-generation college graduate

111

Stanford degree programs

countries of citizenship

of U.S. citizen/resident scholars have served in the U.S. military

2025 Scholars

46%

hold a passport from a non-U.S. country

scholars in cohort

Stanford degree programs

Bar chart showing distribution per degree: 16% business, 5% education, 26% engineering, 21% humanities and sciences, 17% law, 26% medicine, 5% sustainability

17%

first-generation college graduate

countries of citizenship

11%

of U.S. citizen/resident scholars have served in the U.S. military

53%

among U.S. citizens/residents
identify as a person of color

Degrees from

institutions

Degrees from 56 institutions, including

*new in 2025

18 international institutions

38 U.S. undergraduate institutions

new degrees pursued by the 2025 cohort

A woman sitting at an audience, smiling at the camera.

King Global Leadership Program

The King Global Leadership Program (KGLP) is central to the KHS experience. Scholars participate in a wide range of workshops, lectures, projects, and other opportunities designed around the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Leadership Model, which describes the traits, behaviors, and goals for scholars. These offerings complement scholars’ graduate school education, helping prepare them to address the most challenging issues facing our world.

KHeystone Projects

In November, scholars pitched ideas for a KHeystone Project at the annual Ideas Festival and then formed 35 multidisciplinary teams around shared interests. Throughout the year, the KHS team supported scholars with coaching and mentors, and provided workshops to help teams develop their ideas. In May, teams shared what they learned and accomplished at the annual KHeystone Project Showcase. This year, projects addressed such issues as using AI for the good of humanity, creating public service opportunities for youth, and healthcare topics ranging from mental health to access in low-resource settings.

KHS Global Travel/Study

The KHS Global Travel/Study Program is a highlight for many scholars, immersing them in different cultures around the world with trips led and curated by Stanford faculty. This past year, scholars traveled to India with Professor Anurag Mairal, Japan with Professor Kiyoteru Tsutsui, and South Africa with Professor Jim Campbell.

Retreats

Retreats provide scholars with the highly valued opportunity to form new friendships, deepen existing ones, and learn leadership skills in a relaxed environment. As with each academic year, the new cohort of scholars gathered for a retreat at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California, in October. In January, scholars traveled to the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, for the winter retreat, featuring a series of workshops on team dynamics and negotiation skills. And in April, scholars went to Stanford Sierra Camp near Lake Tahoe, for the annual spring retreat, where they discussed ethics and navigating difficult conversations.

Curiosity Corner

On Wednesdays during lunch throughout the academic year, scholars attend Curiosity Corner. These gatherings feature a Stanford professor or expert guest addressing a topic related to the KHS quarterly theme and are designed to spark discussion and debate. This past year’s themes were Different Models of Leadership, The Impact of Emerging Technology, and Career Paths and Decisions.

McMurtry Leadership Lectures

Quarterly McMurtry Leadership Lectures feature distinguished guest speakers who engage with scholars throughout their talks. This past year, speakers included Mariano Florentino Cuéllar, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; author and futurist Neal Stephenson; and leadership expert Liz Wiseman.

Events

Workshops, lectures, meetings, and group activities are central to the scholar experience, helping develop leadership skills while building community. This year the KHS team managed 164 events for scholars. In addition, scholars designed and led another 73 events. There were also seven large, special events created by scholars in partnership with the KHS team, including Brazilian judicial leaders and Stanford experts discussing AI’s impact on legal systems; nonfiction publishing with Stanford lecturer Laura Goode; and a screening of Chosen, a documentary film on the journeys of Korean Americans running for Congress, with filmmaker Joseph Juhn.

Scholar Close-Up

Batu Demir

MBA in Business
2023 cohort
Izmir, Turkey

Batu Demir is committed to advancing AI-enabled assistive technology to increase accessibility for those living with disabilities.

How is Knight-Hennessy shaping you as a leader?

One of the most transformative experiences at Knight-Hennessy has been our storytelling training. It’s a skill that extends beyond communication; storytelling enables us to inspire, bridge gaps, and advocate effectively. When we express our stories, we can convey the heart behind our work and invite others to see the possibilities in new ways. I’ve come to realize that as a leader sharing the “why” behind what we do is essential to rallying support and driving change.

In what way has Knight-Hennessy positively impacted your experience at Stanford?

The diversity of ideas within the community is unmatched. When I speak to my peers at the business school, many are pursuing careers in finance and consulting. At Knight-Hennessy, students’ endeavors include tackling breast cancer, exploring core parts of aeronautics engineering, dismantling education barriers in developing countries, and so much more. The Knight-Hennessy community comprises students from all over the world who offer an abundance of unique ideas for addressing the world’s challenges; being part of it has profoundly expanded my perspective.

Can you share your experience with the Knight-Hennessy application process?

Along the way, I worried. I wondered if a blind student like me would find belonging and if there was truly a place for me here among so many driven, exceptional people. Today, I know the answer without a doubt. Knight-Hennessy and Denning House welcome people of every background, perspective, and ambition. Here, our shared commitment to learning, growth, and impact unites us beyond the boundaries of what we may see as limits.

Whatever your journey, whatever dreams you bring, know that there’s a space for you here. We are here to learn from each other, to lift each other up, and to face the world’s challenges together.

Hear What Our Scholars Have To Say

Knight-Hennessy has been so unique in giving me an opportunity to meet leaders from all over campus. As someone studying at the medical school, it’s been an incredible experience and really changed the way I want to think about treating patients.

Rahul Penumaka, 2024 cohort
MBA, MS in Translational Research and Applied Medicine

If it wasn’t for my KH friends and Denning House, I would’ve had a very siloed grad school experience. But the deep friendships I’ve had with scholars is because we're literally breaking bread with each other every other day. And I think that's powerful.

Takondwa Priscilla Semphere, 2023 cohort
MS in Learning Design and Technology

I’ve so appreciated all of the opportunities to hear new perspectives from speakers and from people of different intellectual disciplines.

Carolyn Bruckmann, 2023 cohort
MBA

I feel so lucky to be a KH scholar, not only because of the wonderful community, but also because I get to witness leaders in action every day.

Pallas Chou, 2023 cohort
PhD in Chemical and Systems Biology

KHS has been the galvanizing force at my back to encourage me to not doubt myself, to give me a platform for possible futures, and to help me find resources and new ways of looking at challenges. I am coming out of KH a more fully self-actualized person, with direction and conviction.

Madison Freeman, 2022 cohort
MBA, MS in Environment and Resources

The most memorable part of my KH journey was Global Travel/Study to Taiwan, especially talking with people from all political parties. And spending 10 days with scholars from different cohorts was a fantastic experience, allowing me to discover them in another light.

Cesar Portocarrero Rodríguez, 2022 cohort
MS in Civil Engineering, MA in Public Policy

Highlights of Scholar Achievements

Tomo Kumahira

2022 cohort, MBA in Business and MS in Environment and Resources

Tomo was the first scholar to lead a KHS Global Travel/Study trip, guiding peers through his home country of Japan. Building on his research at Stanford, Tomo co-founded WaterOne, a company developing AI tools to simplify water management for farmers. Its flagship platform streamlines water budgeting, accounting, and crediting. In 2025, WaterOne was selected for the Imagine H2O Accelerator as a company poised to transform water conservation globally.

Sonia Garcia

2018 cohort, MS in Design Impact

As featured in a KHS alumni video, Sonia co-founded Amae Health in 2022 to treat patients with severe mental illness through an innovative clinical model that merges intensive case management with whole-person care. Amae Health recently announced its expansion to Northern California in partnership with Stanford Health Care, building on earlier collaborations with New York-Presbyterian in New York City, Novant Health in Charlotte, and Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

Rizwaan Malik

2022 cohort, MS in Education Data Science and MS in Environment and Resources

Rizwaan was first author on a paper evaluating how large language models can support middle school math teachers. The research introduces the first framework for using AI to design tiered, or “scaffolded,” lessons that address diverse student skill levels — helping teachers to save time, support struggling learners, and challenge advanced students more effectively.

Orisa Coombs

2021 cohort, PhD in Mechanical Engineering

A breakthrough system that converts urine into fertilizer was the focus of a Nature Water study led by Orisa as first author. Powered by solar energy, the prototype recovers nitrogen while improving sanitation and generating renewable power, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional fertilizers.

Scholar Close-Up

Khushi Malde

MS in Learning Design and Technology
2024 cohort
Nairobi, Kenya

Khushi Malde aims to create career opportunities for high schoolers around the world through mentoring and experiential learning.

What brought you to Stanford and to Knight-Hennessy?

Having grown up in Kenya, I realized that what really brought me joy was bridging the gaps that exist in terms of educational opportunities. As a first-generation student, I saw that education changed the trajectory, not just for me but for my family as well. I started a nonprofit and wanted to figure out how to scale for impact. The work that I'm doing at Stanford is to help students explore their potential career pathways in a very experiential way, no matter their background or where they come from

How has Knight-Hennessy helped you on your journey?

Being able to pursue a graduate degree without having to worry about the finances has been a blessing. Beyond that, I think the beauty of Knight-Hennessy is bringing together scholars from all different backgrounds, and being able to reach out to scholars in all different fields and get their opinions and input on my work.

What advice would you give someone nervous about applying?

I wondered— will I even fit in? Am I going to be able to connect with people? And that's the beauty of KHS. Everyone has done amazing things. They care about causes that they're working for, but they're also here to learn from one another. We talk about a lot of hard topics as well, and everyone's viewpoints are fully respected. Being in Denning House, you just end up in a conversation, and everyone's supporting one another, which has been a really nice experience.

I’m so very grateful to be part of Knight-Hennessy. It has just accelerated what I would have been able to do without this community.

The Arts at Denning House

From inception, the arts were deemed essential to the Knight-Hennessy scholar experience, starting with Denning House itself. The house boasts a vibrant and growing collection of art from significant global artists who are making an impact in the arts, in the same way the scholars will make an impact in their respective fields. The art also provides a daily reminder and visceral experience of the innovation and distinctiveness of Denning House and its role in scholars’ day-to-day lives.

For the first time, KHS held “Music KHnight,” an evening of musical harmonies from talented scholar artists. Styles ranged from classical to jazz, rock, and acoustic as the KH community wove a tapestry of cultural expressions through melody and rhythm. In another first, KHS arranged two curator-guided scholar visits to special exhibitions at the Cantor Museum. In true multidisciplinary fashion, these events were attended by scholars representing a wide range of degree programs.

Scholars performing at Music KHnight

Two students standing in front of an artwork.

Works of art by Tomás Saraceno and Teresita Fernández

Art tours for the public continued throughout the academic year, bringing more than 500 guests into Denning House to enjoy its architectural beauty, stunning views, and world-class art collection.

Annual Report

Letter from the Directors

Inspiring Leaders