American Swiss Foundation names 13 mayors to 2026-27 Innovation Fellows cohort

The American Swiss Foundation has selected 13 U.S. mayors for its 2026–2027 Innovation Fellows program, which met Oct. 15 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to focus on workforce development. The initiative is meant to deepen transatlantic ties while giving local leaders practical ideas for shared labor-market challenges.

Why it matters: - The Innovation Forum is designed to help U.S. mayors compare notes on workforce policy and leadership challenges with peers and experts. - The program also serves the American Swiss Foundation’s broader goal of strengthening Swiss-American ties through leadership development. - The 2026–2027 cohort brings together mayors from 13 U.S. cities, expanding the network of local officials involved in the forum.

What happened: - The American Swiss Foundation announced its 2026–2027 Innovation Fellows on Oct. 19, 2026. - The new cohort includes 13 U.S. mayors participating in the second year of the Foundation’s Innovation Forum at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. - The Fellows met on Oct. 15 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a session centered on “Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow.”

The details: - The 2026–2027 Senior Fellows are Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri; Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes of the District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services; and Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann of Columbia, South Carolina. - The cohort also includes Mayor Malik D. Evans of Rochester, New York; Mayor Carmalitha L. Gumbs of South Fulton, Georgia; Mayor Tim Keller of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Mayor Timothy A. Kelly of Chattanooga, Tennessee. - Additional Fellows are Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle of Vancouver, Washington; Mayor Nadia Mohamed of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; Mayor Jared C. Nicholson of Lynn, Massachusetts; Mayor D.C. Reeves of Pensacola, Florida; Mayor Debra Wimpee of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Mayor Lily Wu of Wichita, Kansas. - ASF says discussions with peers and experts across sectors are intended to produce practical approaches to workforce problems. - The Foundation acknowledged program sponsors Aon and Swiss International Air Lines. - Program partners include Basel Area Business & Innovation, ETH Foundation, Greater Zurich Area, Leading Cities, SwissImpact, and Swissnex in Boston and New York.

Between the lines: - The forum links local U.S. leadership with an international policy and business network, which can broaden the set of ideas mayors bring home. - By centering workforce development, the program is targeting one of the most pressing local economic issues for city governments. - The roster also signals ASF’s emphasis on current and former program alumni, including participants previously recognized through the Young Leaders Conference.

What's next: - The mayors will continue the Innovation Forum programming over the 2026–2027 cycle. - ASF says the forum will keep convening leaders and experts to address shared workforce challenges. - The Foundation will rely on sponsor and partner support to sustain the program.

The bottom line: - ASF is using its Innovation Fellows network to connect city leaders, exchange policy ideas and push transatlantic cooperation into practical workforce action.