Third Emerson Fellowship cohort launches

StandWithUs Australia has launched its third cohort of Emerson Fellows, bringing together 14 students from nine universities across the country.

The Emerson Fellowship is a global StandWithUs initiative that equips university students with the knowledge and skills to educate their peers about Israel, challenge antisemitism and respond to misinformation and hostility.

Now in its third year in Australia, the program is a yearlong initiative that combines education, advocacy training, mentoring and practical initiatives on campus and in the community.

This year’s fellows represent nine institutions and bring different academic backgrounds and campus experiences.

Over the course of the year, fellows participate in training delivered by StandWithUs educators and international experts. They study Israel’s history and contemporary issues, examine antisemitism and develop skills in communication, public engagement and advocacy.

Graduates of the program have organised educational events, facilitated discussions, built alliances with other student groups and reached thousands of people through campus programming and community engagement.

A key component of the fellowship is participation in the StandWithUs International Conference in the United States, where Australian students joined hundreds of student leaders from around the world.

The conference provides advocacy training and exposes fellows to thinkers, policymakers, journalists and educators working in antisemitism education, international affairs and leadership. It also connects Australian students to a global network of peers facing similar challenges.

StandWithUs Australia executive director Michael Gencher said the importance of investing in young leaders had never been clearer.

“University campuses should be places of rigorous debate and learning, not environments where Jewish students feel isolated or intimidated,” Gencher said.

“But what we see on campus does not stay on campus. It flows into the wider community. The Emerson Fellowship is about giving students the tools, the knowledge, and the confidence to engage in these conversations with clarity and integrity, and to lead both on campus and within the community.”

StandWithUs Australia Victorian manager Max Levy, who was part of the first Australian cohort, said the program’s long-term value lies in its ability to build a leadership pipeline for the community.

“I know firsthand what the Emerson Fellowship can do,” Levy said.

“It gave me the education, the confidence and the support to lead on campus when it really mattered. From there I became a campus coordinator, and now I manage our Victorian work. That pathway is exactly what we want for these fellows – to finish the program not only as stronger advocates, but as stronger leaders for the Jewish community and for Australia.”