Applications for the 2026-27 Fellowship are open. Applications are due by July 8, 2026.

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The Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship is a year-long program designed to foster debates on pressing policy questions and the philosophical underpinnings of American political life. In 2024, the existing Fellowship was renamed the Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship in honor of Marilyn Woodhouse, who provided a landmark endowment to advance and support the program for years to come.

The curriculum for the 2026-27 Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship will focus on the question, “What is conservatism?” Fellows will explore post-war conservative thought and how thinkers like F.A. Hayek, Russell Kirk and Frank Meyer attempted to resolve the tensions between freedom and order in public policy. The program will place a particular emphasis on the post-war conservative philosophy of fusionism and its relationship to both the American Founding and contemporary policy challenges. The Fellowship runs from September 2026 to May 2027.

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 fusionism through deliberation and debate. Fellows will participate in academic discussion sessions while networking with key public policy leaders, academics and journalists.

Institutions like TFAS exist not simply to cultivate atomized excellence, but to convene people—because it is only through community that our principles are sustained. The community that’s been created here has been a masterclass not only in intellectual vitality, but in civic friendship” – Cate Gangemi, 2024-25 Woodhouse Fellow 

2026-27 FELLOWSHIP CURRICULUM

The Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship offers a unique blend of networking, professional development and rigorous academic discussions. The 2026-27 curriculum includes:

• Monthly Discussions: Engage with public policy experts, academics and political leaders in Washington, D.C., on topics including F.A. Hayek’s “The Constitution of Liberty,” the political philosophy of William F. Buckley Jr. and Wilhelm Röpke’s “Humane Economy.”
• Fall Retreat: Travel to Mecosta, Michigan, to delve into the American political tradition at the ancestral home of Russell Kirk. Discussions will focus on Kirk’s influential work, “The Roots of American Order,” exploring his perspectives on order and virtue in American society.
• Spring Retreat: Visit the halls of liberty in Philadelphia to examine the nature of the American Founding, where our liberties are derived, and the enduring relevance of the debates between The Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Join us to deepen your understanding of the conservative intellectual tradition and to build lasting connections with fellow professionals dedicated to shaping the future of public policy.

The TFAS Woodhouse Fellows Program does an excellent job of promoting two important goals: deepening the knowledge of and appreciation for our constitutional republic and helping young professionals in our nation’s capital reflect more deeply on their vocations. The weekend seminars not only create a greater understanding of our political system but also build a supportive community that is essential for navigating the challenges of life in DC.” – Jeff Polet, Director of the Ford Leadership Forum at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Woodhouse Faculty

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please contact Hannah Pritzen, program manager for continuing education, at hpritzen@tfas.org with any questions. All applicants must:

• Live and work in the field of public policy in the Washington, D.C., area
• Be professionals committed to the principles of limited government
• Commit to attending the monthly evening sessions (Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m.) as well as the weekend fall and spring retreats

The Fellowship is designed for young professionals with up to ten years of experience. Graduate students may apply, but preference will be given to those currently working in the field of public policy.

2026-27 SCHEDULE

Orientation & Welcome Reception
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026
6-8:30 p.m.

Opening Speaker Event
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
4-6:00 p.m.

Fall Retreat
Oct. 15-18, 2026
Russell Kirk Center, Mecosta, Michigan

Spring Retreat
February 2027 (exact weekend TBD)
Philadelphia, PA

Monthly Speaker Events
November 17, 2026
December 8, 2026
January 12, 2027
March 9, 2027
April 6, 2027

Closing Dinner
May 11, 2027