Freetown, 10th April 2026 — Sierra Leonean academic Issa Belmond Thullah has been named the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), one of the institution’s highest honors for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and impact.
The award recognizes Thullah’s dedication to developing evidence-based policy solutions and strengthening public-sector institutions. His research spans governance, homeland security, emergency preparedness, and institutional accountability, areas critical to building resilient and equitable societies.
This latest honor follows his Dominion Justice in Society Scholarship Award in 2025, which highlighted his commitment to justice-oriented research and the pursuit of accountable public systems.
Thullah has presented his work at leading conferences across the United States, including the Social Equity Leadership Conference in Maryland, the APPAM Conference in Seattle, and the Graduate Research Talks at VCU. His scholarship has consistently been praised for its rigour and relevance to pressing public challenges.
In April 2026, Thullah was elected President of the Graduate Student Association at VCU, adding to a leadership journey that began at Fourah Bay College, where he served as President of the Political Science Society from 2013 to 2014.
A first-class graduate in political science from Fourah Bay College in 2015, he went on to earn a Commonwealth Scholarship for his MA in Applied Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter in the UK. He later became a Mandela Washington Fellow, studying public management at Syracuse University in 2022.
Beyond academia, Thullah has held distinguished roles in Sierra Leone’s security and governance sectors, further demonstrating his commitment to public service.
As a doctoral student at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, Thullah has distinguished himself through outstanding academic achievement, impactful research, and service to his academic community. His recognition as the Outstanding Doctoral Student of 2026 cements his place as one of Sierra Leone’s brightest young scholars on the global stage.
Thullah’s journey reflects the power of education, resilience, and leadership. His achievements embody Sierra Leone’s potential to produce world-class thinkers and changemakers.
