The Hunt Institute’s Inaugural Mayors Fellowship Concludes, Elevating City Leadership on Education and Workforce Readiness

CARY, N.C. – The Hunt Institute announced that its inaugural Mayors Fellowship will now be known as the Hunt-Lee Mayors Leadership Fellows program, marking the conclusion of its first cohort. The Fellowship program brought together 15 mayors and city leaders from across the country to strengthen local leadership on education policy through months of bipartisan learning focused on supporting students, educators, and workforce pipelines through mayoral action.

A New Name, A Deeper Commitment: Formerly known as the Hunt Mayors Leadership Fellows, the program has been renamed to honor the distinguished career of Senator Howard Lee, whose service has been a model for leadership at every level of government. Senator Lee made history as the first African American mayor elected in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the first African American elected mayor of any majority-white city in the South. He later served as a North Carolina state senator, Chairman of the State Board of Education, and senior education advisor to two governors, including Governor Jim Hunt. His lifelong commitment to education as a driving force of opportunity and community progress reflects the mission and continued growth of the Mayors Fellowship. The announcement underscores The Institute’s continued commitment to supporting mayoral leadership, as leaders reflected on the impact of the inaugural cohort.

“Through this Fellowship, I have gained actionable ideas and new ways to collaborate in support of education. Talent development is essential to our success, it drives our economy, supports our businesses, and helps us attract new opportunities, said Mayor Rita Ali (D- Peoria, IL). That’s why investing in education is so critical, and I am excited to continue working with The Hunt Institute to strengthen Peoria’s educational foundation for the future.”

“Having seen firsthand the impact education has on families, I began serving my community with my own children in mind said Mayor Jan Kulmann (R – Thornton, CO). I am grateful to The Hunt Institute for being part of this inaugural Fellowship to help ensure mayors have the tools and knowledge needed to lead on education, and I remain committed to ensuring every kid in Thornton has access to high-quality opportunities.”

Building on more than a decade of experience training state leaders, The Hunt Institute brought its proven fellowship model to the local level. The Hunt-Lee Mayors Leadership Fellows program applied that same framework to city leaders who increasingly see education as central to economic development, public safety, and long-term community growth.

“Too often, education is not given the attention it deserves in public leadership,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “In our recent Across the Aisle polling, 67 percent of voters say elected officials talk too little about education. Mayors are uniquely positioned as connectors in their communities — bringing together businesses, workforce development and training partners, community organizations, parents, and schools to support education. By engaging mayors, we meet education policy where communities feel it most, giving this cohort practical strategies to support educators, align schools with their workforce needs, and drive local impact.”

Throughout the Fellowship from October 2025 through May 2026, mayors examined education across the full education continuum, from early childhood through postsecondary and workforce alignment. Sessions focused on how cities can expand access to quality early learning and child care, strengthen teacher recruitment and retention, connect schools to local employers, and using data beyond a single proficiency score to measure student growth.

Fellows also explored mayors’ unique policy levers, including budget priorities, cross-sector partnerships, data-sharing agreements, regulatory and enforcement authority, and convening power, to drive accountability, and improve outcomes for students and families.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to The Hunt Institute for their enduring commitment to education,” said Senator Howard Lee, Board Member, The Hunt Institute. “Governor Jim Hunt was not only a trusted colleague, but a dear friend whose leadership and belief in the power of education shaped so much of my own journey in public service. I have always believed that education is the foundation of opportunity and the pathway to stronger communities. I am proud to see mayors from across the country stepping forward to lead on behalf of their students and families. This fellowship reflects the kind of collaboration, leadership, and shared purpose that can truly make a difference for the next generation.”

The 2025–2026 Inaugural Cohort

• The Honorable Frank Scott, Mayor, Little Rock, Arkansas (D)
• The Honorable Helen Tran, Mayor, San Bernardino, California (D)
• The Honorable Jan Kulmann, Mayor, Thornton, Colorado (R)
• The Honorable Bruce Rector, Mayor, Clearwater, Florida (R)
• The Honorable Scott Nishimoto, City Councilmember, Honolulu, Hawaii (D)
• The Honorable Rita Ali, Mayor, Peoria, Illinois (D)
• The Honorable Lily Wu, Mayor, Wichita, Kansas (LP)
• The Honorable Jonathan Mitchell, Mayor, New Bedford, Massachusetts (D)
• The Honorable Eric Enriquez, Mayor, Las Cruces, New Mexico (D)
• The Honorable Rita Joseph, City Councilmember, New York, New York (D)
• The Honorable Leonardo Williams, Mayor, Durham, North Carolina (D)
• The Honorable Monroe Nichols, Mayor, Tulsa, Oklahoma (D)
• The Honorable Travis Stovall, Mayor, Gresham, Oregon (D)
• The Honorable Xay Khamsyvoravong, Councilmember, Newport, Rhode Island (D)
• The Honorable Mattie Parker, Mayor, Fort Worth, Texas (R)

About The Hunt Institute

The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, is a leader in transforming public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/