Schaeffer Fellows
Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service
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
At the Forefront of Nuclear Policy
Jamie Kwong’s 2016 Schaeffer Fellowship with a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee helped to launch her career in nuclear weapons diplomacy. After earning a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, she has conducted nonproliferation and nuclear policy research at prominent institutions in both the United States and United Kingdom. Now a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, she has appeared on National Public Radio and published in Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy.
More About Our Alumni