Stories from the Minerva Community

Learn how Minerva's interdisciplinary education helped Yutaro Shimizu (M23) launch a career in deep tech and Japan's expanding space industry.

Meet Annabel Schön (M25), whose Minerva experience led from conservation research to advancing snow modeling in the Arctic

Minerva alum Gereon Fju Mewes discusses how an interdisciplinary, global education prepared him to advance sustainability and circular economy policy across Europe.

What does it mean to be a "Leader of Tomorrow"? M25 alum Jiayuan Tian reflects on his St. Gallen Symposium experience and how Minerva shaped his approach to global leadership.

Learn how Pietro de Souza (M27), a first-generation student from Brazil, overcame barriers, secured multiple scholarships, and found a global community at Minerva.

Explore how Alex Korablev (M27) is using AI to help preserve Qom, an endangered Indigenous language spoken in Argentina.

MDA graduate Katarzyna Buszka reflected on decision-making and community at Minerva University’s 2026 graduation ceremony.

Commencement speaker Adam Met and President Mike Magee reflected on identity and the importance of community during Minerva University's 2026 graduation.

At Minerva University’s 2026 graduation ceremony, student speakers Wisdom Ifode and Jonathan Shamwana reflected on courage, community, and the relationships built across four years of living and learning around the world.

Get to know this year’s Nippon Foundation Scholars, Kiyomi Koide and Sakura Matsuzuka.

Meet Minerva alum Alexia Benakova, whose journey from global classrooms to San Francisco’s art and AI spaces is redefining what a creative career can look like.

A recap of an evening connecting Minerva students with Tokyo’s innovation community.

A conversation with Matthew Paffhouse, City Director, San Francisco.

Discover how Taher (M27) is using AI and data to tackle real-world sustainability challenges

Learn more about how Tatiana Tylosky’s journey from Minerva University's MDA program led her to found OpenLedger, rethinking how work is defined, priced, and delivered.

Learn more about M27 Yerkezhan Toleukhan and her passion for molecular biology and research lab experience at UC Berkeley.

Learn about Emma Zhang (M27), whose passion for military history and creative writing shapes her work in foreign policy and historical storytelling.

Meet M26’s Sonja Monastyrski, Director of Finance at 180 Degrees Consulting Minerva, with roots in Ukraine and Canada.

The image of global leadership is undergoing a major transformation. Each country prioritizes its own claims, and differing values clash. The previously shared international order is wavering, and logical dialogue alone is no longer sufficient to navigate the global landscape. How can the leaders of island nation Japan demonstrate their presence in this turbulent global environment? This article explores the qualities required of leaders in 2026.

A Conversation with Gavin (Chia Ta Lee), M21 — the first Taiwanese student admitted to Minerva’s MDA program, co-author of Taiwan’s bestselling book on Habits of Mind, and founder of Worldviews Academy.

Learn how David’s MDA prepared him to thrive in any role.

Meet Ena Yamaguchi, a Social Sciences student from Japan in the Class of 2028, featured in our Sustainability Minor Series.

A conversation with Manu Jayamohan Nair. Director of Student Life, Hyderabad.

How Minerva’s MDA helped Shawn move beyond a traditional career path.

Prepare for Minerva’s Writing and Expression challenges with practical tips to stay focused, organize ideas, and communicate clearly in writing and speech.

In this edition of our Sustainability Series, learn how Mara Dumitru uses computational science and sustainability to build AI solutions for environmental impact.

Meet Andrés Piacentino, Minerva’s City Director in Buenos Aires, who designs City Experiences that help students engage with the city beyond tourism.

Learn more about how Sofia Perez (M28) is turning stigma into story, using comic books to spark bold conversations about menstrual health.

Introducing Peter, a Minerva graduate student.

Meet Lydia, a Class of 2025 alumna from Canada.

How Minerva and the Nippon Foundation are equipping executives to lead across borders, cultures, and complexity

Minerva’s MDA equips professionals like Gloria Kexin Wu to think critically and lead with integrity in an AI-driven world.

Meet Ana Beatriz, a Class of 2027 student from Brazil, who discusses what she believes is the most pressing issue of our century.

Meet Sanchita Shekhar, Minerva Class of 2021 alumna, and her debut avant-garde poetry collection, Only Don’t Know.

Meet Abdelrahman, a Class of 2030 member from Egypt, and brother of Ali, Class of 2026.

Discover the Film Collective, a cross-cohort community where Minervans explore creativity through film, from 24-hour marathons to industry workshops.

written by Amina Rakhimbergenova, Class of 2027

Introducing Na Li, a Minerva graduate student.

A single Facebook message sparked a lifelong, global friendship between Minervans Emily and Audrey, Class of 2021. Read their story.

written by Amina Rakhimbergenova, Class of 2027

Faced with the prospect of an annual cost of approximately 7 million yen, 19-year-old Emi Ya maguchi was both happy and shaken by her acceptance. The university she was accepted to i s Minerva University—a university known for its low acceptance rate, which has led some to s ay it's "even harder to get into than Harvard University," and which has been ranked as the "w orld's most innovative university" for four consecutive years in the international university ran kings (WURI: The World University Rankings for Innovation).

Introducing Zoe, a Minerva graduate student.

Meet Salome, Class of 2026, whose passion lies in introducing sustainability awareness from an early age through education.

Meet Hailey, a Class of 2026 student from the US, who joined Minerva from Rice University.

written by Amina Rakhimbergenova, Class of 2027

Meet Gaja, Hanna, and Lea from the Class of 2028, three Minerva students selected for the 2025 Millennium Fellowship & founders of CRUX Productions.

Introducing Oded, a Minerva graduate student.

Meet Lotte, a Class of 2027 student from Germany who believes in exploring sustainability through an interdisciplinary lens.

Meet Minerva University EVP of Strategy and Administration, D’Andre Wilson.

Introducing Tala, a Minerva graduate student.

Meet Martin from Egypt, the first Minerva Class of 2030 member and brother of Fady, Minerva Class of 2025.

Meet Class of 2021 alumna, Ezza, from Pakistan.

written by Alexia, Class of 2027

Introducing Jerry, a Minerva graduate student.

Meet Minerva University EVP of Global Learning and Academic Operations, Dollie Davis, Ph.D.

Meet Emma, Class of 2027, and learn all about her work in military history.

by Mike Magee, President of Minerva University

Meet Alice, an incoming Class of 2029 student from Brazil.

Reflections by graduate students and alumni.

Meet Haider Gillani, a Class of 2025 alumnus from Pakistan.

Conversations with Fall 2024 Graduate Students.

Meet Gabriel, a Class of 2025 alumnus from Sweden.

Meet Khaled, a Class of 2025 alumnus from Egypt.

Meet Minerva University Provost and Class of 2020 alumna parent, Patrice McMahon.