Schaeffer Fellows

Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service

The Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program funds government internships, provides professional development, and fosters mentorship for undergraduate students with exceptional potential. Schaeffer Fellows gain experience-based knowledge of government operations, a deeper understanding of the impact of public service, and the skills and motivation to join the next generation of civic leaders.

Program Leadership

Erica Lovano McCann, Ed.D.

Executive Director, Schaeffer Fellows Program

Willa Erickson, M.Ed.

Assistant Director, Schaeffer Fellows Program

Fostering Engaged Citizenship

The Schaeffer Fellows program is one of two flagship programs at the Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service. Each summer, the program supports a distinguished cohort of Fellows from five universities in full-time government internships, while fostering a thriving alumni community. While Fellows come from different backgrounds, political perspectives, and academic disciplines, they share a commitment to public service and an interest in understanding how government operates.

Learn more at the Schaeffer Fellows website

About the Program

Key Themes

The program is grounded in four key themes — core values, leadership lessons, collaboration and networking, and transferable skills — explored through engaging professional development offerings.

Fellowship Benefits

Schaeffer Fellows gain a distinctive experience through 10-week, high-level government internships, enhanced by specialized resources, mentorship, and professional development. As alumni, they join a vibrant community that fosters networking and career growth.

Strong Partnerships

Over the past decade, the Schaeffer Fellows program has built strategic partnerships with five universities and several national non-profit organizations that enrich the internship experience, expand professional development, and strengthen alumni engagement.

Alumni Spotlight

Alumna Pursues Career in Nuclear Policy Research

Jamie Kwong’s 2016 Schaeffer Fellowship with the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific was a pivotal moment in launching her career in nuclear weapons diplomacy.

While a senior, Jamie was selected for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. After earning both a bachelor’s and progressive master’s degree from USC, she attended King’s College London, where she earned a PhD in War Studies. Her dissertation focused on U.S. public opinion on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Since then, she has conducted nonproliferation and nuclear policy research at leading institutions in both the U.S. and U.K. Currently a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Jamie has been featured on National Public Radio and published articles in Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy.

Jamie also serves as an alumni representative on the Schaeffer Fellows Program Advisory Board.