Letter From the Founder
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program. Over the past decade, we have supported 418 undergraduate interns at over 200 government offices and agencies.
Our Fellows have engaged in meaningful work with real impact. They have addressed constituent inquiries, conducted policy research, attended briefings, crafted talking points, organized community events, and designed educational curricula. Through these experiences, they have witnessed the profound difference one individual can make in the lives of many and learned lessons that will guide them as the next generation of civic leaders.
I have had the pleasure of working with program leadership whose efforts set the Fellows program apart. Through university and institutional partnerships, they have created opportunities for Fellows to broaden their professional networks, explore policy interests, and gain insight into the inner workings of government. Each Fellow benefits from the guidance of an internship supervisor and an alumni mentor who provide support during the summer and inspire a commitment to public service through their example. Fostering a culture of engagement is central to the Schaeffer Fellows experience and essential for ensuring the strength of our democracy.
As we celebrate this milestone, I want to thank all who have contributed to the program’s success. Our dedicated Advisory Board members, collaborative university and institutional partners, hard-working program staff, committed alumni mentors, and, most importantly, passionate and committed Fellows, have all played important roles in this remarkable journey.
As you read through this report, I hope you feel inspired by our Fellows and the meaningful impact they have made in their communities. We are looking forward to expanding our alumni program offerings and invite you to partner with us in supporting their continued professional growth and dedication to public service.
Thank you for your support and belief in the next generation of civic leaders.
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Program Founder
Meet Our Team
Willa Erickson
Assistant Director
About the Program
Mission
Four Key Themes
Government internships are the cornerstone of the Schaeffer Fellows program experience, bolstered by robust professional development rooted in four key themes. These themes serve as a foundation for all other program resources such as the Schaeffer Fellows Resource Guide and the Schaeffer Fellows Summit.
Reflecting on Core Values
Exploring Leadership Lessons
Collaborating & Networking
Developing Transferable Skills
Fellowship Benefits
Internship Resources
Living Stipend
Resource Guide
Supportive Supervisors
Professional Development
Virtual Orientation
Schaeffer Fellows Summit
Fall Recognition Events
Mentorship
Alumni Mentors
Institutional Partners
Online Community Membership
By the Numbers
Schaeffer Fellows supported from our five University Partners
Government offices and agencies at local, state, and federal levels
Weeks of full-time work in government service over ten years of Schaeffer Fellows
Alumni reported internships, fellowships, or jobs in public service after the program
Alumni reported an interest in serving as a alumni mentor to a future Schaeffer Fellow
A Decade of Impact
Strong Partnerships
Over the past decade, the Schaeffer Fellows program has built strategic partnerships that enrich the internship experience, expand professional development offerings, and foster alumni engagement. Guided by a dedicated Advisory Board, the program has focused on strengthening relationships and setting strategic goals for future growth.
In 2015, the program launched with two university partners and eight Fellows. Over time, it expanded to include five universities, supporting fifty Fellows annually. University partners work closely with internship supervisors and alumni mentors to offer Fellows diverse government work experiences and a strong support network.
Relationships with public interest organizations have broadened professional development resources, helping Fellows and alumni explore different career pathways and develop transferable skills. Many alumni go on to pursue additional experience in public service through internships, research positions, and full-time jobs.
As the alumni community continues to grow by at least fifty Fellows each year, opportunities for sustained engagement and meaningful contributions - both within government and in other sectors - continues to expand.
Inspiring Stories of Alumni Impact
At the forefront of nuclear policy and non-proliferation
Jamie Kwong, 2016 Schaeffer Fellow
Rhodes Scholar one of youngest presidential speech writers
Elijah DeVaughn, 2020 Schaeffer Fellow
Pursuing sustainability and environmental justice
Cameron McKenzie, 2018 Schaeffer Fellow
24
Competitive
Fellowship Recipients
These alumni have earned prestigious nationally and internationally recognized fellowships.
Boren Scholarship
Lisa de Ràfols
Vivian Le
Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
Amy Chong
Itcelia Segoviano-Ramirez
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Ida Abhari Jenna Mazza
Lisa de Ràfols Tommy Nguyen
Sofia Greenwald Rianna Rios
Joseph Jocas Javier Solis
Nivea Krishnan
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Jun Lee
Marshall Scholarship
Jamie Kwong
Presidential Management Fellowship
Sherese Bonner
Cameron McKenzie
Rhodes Scholarship
Elijah DeVaughn
Elizabeth Guo
Rotary Global Grant
Remaya Campbell
Schwarzman Scholarship
Diya Kraybill
Karthik Ramesh
Truman Scholarship
Araoluwa Omotowa
Jalen Travis
Marking Ten Years
In 2024, the program supported the tenth cohort of Schaeffer Fellows. Ten years was marked by celebrations with alumni and looking ahead to what the next ten years has in store for the fellowship.
On the east coast, Schaeffer Fellows program staff invited alumni in New York City and the surrounding area to attend a dinner reception in Manhattan followed by a performance of Hamilton on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers theater. Alumni from Princeton University and the University of Southern California attended and formed new connections with peers.
In San Francisco, alumni from U.C. Berkeley, the University of Southern California, and the University of Virginia met to share updates on their lives and careers since participating in the fellowship. The dinner presented the opportunity for Fellows from different cohort years to meet, especially those who participated in the program virtually in 2020 ad 2021.
The Tenth Cohort
Fifty 2024 Schaeffer Fellows—the program’s tenth cohort—represent a broad diversity of interests, however, common among them is their commitment to learning more about how government works and engaging in public service.
Better able to connect their goals to career
Improved their confidence in networking
Considering additional experience in public service
Will remain in touch with their internship supervisor
2024 Fellows in Action
Each summer, Schaeffer Fellows demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and explore ways to make meaningful contributions to their internship offices. Members of the 2024 Schaeffer Fellows cohort represent an array of academic disciplines including economics, public health, government, legal studies, international affairs, and politics. They also represent a number of different special interests informing their career exploration, such as global development, public health, and infrastructure.
Schaeffer Fellows completed ten weeks of full-time work that spanned many different government functions. Supported by supervisors and mentors, Fellows corresponded with constituents, prepared memos and briefings, and conducted complex analysis of bills and research. The in-person Schaeffer Fellows Summit and Fall Recognition Events allowed Fellows an opportunity to meet with their peers, share about the similarities and differences of their internship experiences, and learn from one another about engaged citizenship.
Championing Their Home Communities
Putting Health Policy Into Practice
Getting a Glimpse Into Foreign Policy
Managing Critical Communications
Crunching the
Numbers
Schaeffer Fellows Summit
Hosted each June in Washington, D.C., the Schaeffer Fellows Summit is a signature event of the Schaeffer Fellows program, bringing together current Fellows, alumni, and public service leaders for three days of enriching learning and professional development.
Fall Recognition Events
In September and October, Schaeffer Fellows program staff and Mr. Schaeffer visited each University Partner campus to gather final reflections from the Fellows on their most valuable and challenging experiences over the summer. During these visits, Fellows are formally recognized for their contributions to public service with a certificate and encouraged to stay engaged with the program. Most importantly, they are urged to remain active citizens with a deeper understanding of how the U.S. government operates.
