ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT RYAN JOSEPH LOUGHRAN, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania, United States | Advancing SDG 2, SDG 3 & UNAI 1
" I am excited to be a Millennium Fellow because it connects me with a community of change makers who are passionate about making a difference. I do this work because I have seen how mentorship, collaboration, and sustainable projects can empower young people and transform communities. Being part of a network that values action, learning, and shared impact motivates me to keep creating opportunities for others to find their voice and make a lasting difference. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Roots of Renewal
"Roots of Renewal built on a partnership with the Penn Wellness Farm to address food insecurity and mental health challenges in West Philadelphia. By transforming underused urban spaces into accessible gardens, the project connected sustainable food production with community well-being.
Working with Penn students, local youth, and community members, we hosted planting days, harvest distributions, and nutrition workshops. Gardening also served as a form of therapy, helping participants reduce stress, build connections, and gain a sense of accomplishment.
By the end of the fellowship year, Roots of Renewal contributed hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to local mutual-aid networks and created ongoing opportunities for wellness and learning in the community. At its heart, the project aimed to cultivate healthier neighborhoods by nurturing both the land and the people who depend on it."
About the Millennium Fellow
Ryan Loughran is a student passionate about social impact, public service, and sustainable business. As President of his school’s debate program and Model UN, he has mentored peers while competing nationally, placing 14th at Nationals and earning multiple national awards. An Eagle Scout, Ryan led environmental initiatives and served as a Student Representative on his school board. Through internships with the California State Assembly and Senate, he engaged in policy making and advocacy. At the University of Pennsylvania, he will study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, exploring student government, investing with an ESG focus and public policy to drive meaningful change.
