Thaddeus Fairley, special assistant to the dean at Alcorn State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, announced his acceptance to The Obama Foundation’s Leaders program, joining more than 200 global changemakers for the 2025-2026 class.
Following a competitive selection process, Fairley will be one of just 101 Leaders participating in the Leaders USA program, where they will receive training in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
A native of Indianola, Miss., Fairley leads initiatives that promote growth and innovation within the college’s agricultural programs at Alcorn.
He was formerly the state executive director at the Mississippi USDA Farm Service Agency, where he addressed systemic inequities in agriculture and advocated for socially disadvantaged farmers. In his USDA role, Fairley hired the most diverse group of County Executive Director Trainees in Mississippi Farm Service Agency history and launched the first cohort of the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program in over 20 years, transitioning underserved students into full-time USDA roles. Responsible for the strategic leadership of more than 60 service centers within his agency, he managed a workforce of over 200 employees across the state of Mississippi. Additionally, he directed an annual budget exceeding $10 million and is responsible for overseeing the distribution of $1 billion in federal funding, which supported the agricultural sector in Mississippi.
As part of the six-month program, these changemakers will convene virtually each week for sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. They will also have an opportunity to participate in virtual experiences and special events, including conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation’s global network.
Now in its third year, The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program is guided by the leadership values of President and Mrs. Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s Hope to Action curriculum to support Leaders in embracing diverse perspectives, harnessing collective power, and driving tangible progress toward a more just and sustainable world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture, and the more than 100 Leaders are working across a broad range of focus areas, including democracy and civic engagement, public health, climate and environmental sustainability, and arts and culture.
The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.
