New York, NY — January 2026 — Jean Paul Laurent, Founder and CEO of Unspoken Smiles, has been named one of 60 leaders selected for the 2026 Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) Program, the program’s 11th annual class. Over the past decade, Presidential Leadership Scholars has brought together nearly 600 established, purpose-driven leaders from across sectors to collaborate, grow, and drive impact while studying leadership through the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Laurent was selected following a highly competitive application and review process. Scholars are chosen based on demonstrated leadership potential and the strength of their personal leadership projects designed to address a critical challenge within their communities, professions, or organizations.
Jean Paul Laurent is an award-winning social entrepreneur and global oral health advocate. He is the Founder and CEO of Unspoken Smiles, the world’s first oral health–focused NGO accredited by the United Nations, and a pioneering organization advancing the principle that there is no health without oral health. Under his leadership, Unspoken Smiles has served more than 10,000 schoolchildren globally, contributed to key United Nations policy processes including the Bangkok Declaration on Oral Health, and is opening the Unspoken Smiles Clinic in Costa Rica, envisioned as a fully preventive and environmentally sustainable dental clinic. He is also leading the launch of the world’s first Museum of Smile in Costa Rica, connecting art, culture, and public health, and is the holder of a U.S. patent for an eco-friendly toothbrush innovation.
“Being selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Jean Paul Laurent. “This opportunity will allow me to learn from historic models of leadership while sharpening my ability to scale impact, build cross-sector partnerships, and advance oral health as a cornerstone of global health, equity, and sustainable development.”
During the six-month program, Laurent will further develop his leadership initiative focused on integrating oral health into broader health, education, and sustainability systems, with a particular emphasis on prevention, youth leadership, and policy alignment. Through this work, he aims to accelerate progress toward zero cavity communities and strengthen the recognition of oral health within national and global health agendas.
Over the course of the program, Scholars travel to each participating presidential center to engage with former presidents, senior administration officials, business and civic leaders, and leading academics. They study and apply diverse approaches to leadership while exchanging ideas to strengthen their collective impact.
Since its launch in 2015, Scholars have consistently reported significant growth in leadership skills, responsibility, and impact. Notably, 93% of Scholars report having a strong sense of purpose as a leader, and 100% report feeling inspired to accomplish and achieve more after completing the program.
The 2026 Presidential Leadership Scholars Program will begin on January 21, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
About Presidential Leadership Scholars
The Presidential Leadership Scholars program is a partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. The program brings together leaders from diverse backgrounds to strengthen their leadership capacities and apply the lessons of presidential history to today’s most pressing challenges.
To learn more, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org. For updates, follow @PLSprogram on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, and use #PLScholars.
