The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is now accepting applications for the 2021-22 Public Policy Fellowship. This Fellowship provides an opportunity for young leaders who are passionate about public policy to learn and network in Washington, D.C. It is designed for those with two to ten years’ professional experience, and the curriculum for the Fellowship focuses on “The Experiment in Self-Government.” The application deadline is June 1.
The TFAS Public Policy Fellowship provides a unique setting for participants to bounce ideas off one another while gaining insight from each other’s background and experience in the policy space.” – Jacob Lane, PPF ’20
The goal of the Fellowship is to provide events that allow young professionals to foster strong connections with peers working in public policy while building an understanding of the principles of government through deliberation and debate. Fellows will participate in academic discussion sessions while networking with key public policy leaders, academics and journalists.
“The Experiment in Self-Government” allows Fellows to examine the challenges and questions a free society must address in order to flourish along with the unique advantages it can enjoy. The program places particular emphasis on the ideas and seminal texts of the American Founding.
Through a series of guest lectures and discussion sessions, participants will discuss a wide variety of topics, such as a virtuous citizenry, constitutionalism, security and foreign policy, deliberation and communication, and freedom of religion. Director of external relations and special assistant to the president for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) Jacob Lane, PPF ’20, pointed out that studying these important topics helps policy professionals make more effective decisions.
“It is important to study and analyze the big issues of our day,” Lane said.” Without a deep understanding of the topic at hand, how can one provide recommendations to key policy issues?”
The Public Policy Fellowship will begin in September 2021 and conclude in May 2022. Over the course of nine months, Fellows will convene for monthly discussion sessions with public policy experts, academics and political leaders on principles foundational to America’s democratic republic.
Fellows will also participate in fall and spring weekend retreats. The fall retreat will be held in Gettysburg, where Fellows will explore the principles espoused in the Lincoln-Douglas debates and how those ideas are still relevant for modern discourse and policy. The spring retreat will take place in Charlottesville, Virginia. This second conference is focused on “American National Character” and challenges Fellows to consider the requirements and makeup of American citizenship at the time of the Founding and today.
Intern program manager for The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program and current Fellow Colleen Harmon, PPF ’20, believes the Public Policy Fellowship has challenged her and helped her gain confidence in herself as a policy professional.
“The TFAS Public Policy Fellowship challenged me to find my voice,” Harmon shared. Surrounded as I am by brilliant peers, I know I must be prepared and speak well, but I must also be open to having my mind changed. It has given me the confidence to engage with my peers in open and pleasant conversations about American political philosophy, public policy and the future of the country. I have benefited immensely from this experience and I am so grateful.”
It has given me the confidence to engage with my peers in open and pleasant conversations about American political philosophy, public policy and the future of the country. I have benefited immensely from this experience and I am so grateful.” – Colleen Harmon, PPF ’20
Learn More and Apply
Visit TFAS.org/PPF to learn more and apply today.
Please contact Michelle Le, TFAS vice president of international and alumni programs, at michelle@TFAS.org with any questions.