Isabell Koschnitzke

Fellowship

Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs

Period of the Fellowship

2026

Project title

Loneliness as a Risk Factor and Opportunity for Social Cohesion: Strategies for an Inclusive and Resilient Society

Short biography

In her fellowship year, Isabell Koschnitzke focuses on loneliness as a global public health issue and the immediate risks it poses to social cohesion. She aims to explore how policies, communication, and interventions should be designed to effectively tackle loneliness. Previously, Isabell worked as a consultant at a Berlin-based strategy consultancy, leading projects in Germany and across Europe. Earlier roles at Vodafone, L’Oréal, and Henkel strengthened her expertise in Corporate Social Responsibility and Communications. Isabell studied French Cultural Studies and International Management in Essen, Montpellier, and Düsseldorf. Beyond her professional work, she is also the founder of a choir project designed to tackle loneliness by providing easy access to communal singing.