EI Fellowships

Tackle the greatest challenges of our time

The Eisenhower Institute Undergraduate Fellows program offers a select group of Gettysburg College seniors the chance to develop their leadership skills and grow in their knowledge and understanding of public policy. Under the guidance of Professor Ryan Kerney, the Harold G. Evans Professor of Eisenhower Leadership Studies, they are responsible for developing and promoting a public policy theme with programming in both Gettysburg and Washington, D.C.

The 2026-27 theme for the fellowship is Federal Investments in Science. Over the course of the year, the Fellows will examine how science advances by examining government investments in scientific research and training, the long-term impact of those investments on national priorities, and the distinct U.S. approach compared with other countries. 

Past Undergraduate Fellows opportunities include:

• Meeting with prize-winning authors and journalists, as well as senior executives in the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council.

• Hosting a Cabinet Member of the European Union Commissioner for Security Union for a lecture in D.C.

• Moderating an on-campus discussion about environmental justice between an economist at the Environmental Protection Agency and an activist with Greenpeace.

Explore public service in the executive branch

A cornerstone of the Fielding Center, the Fielding Fellows program provides a select group of Gettysburg College students with an immersive experience centered on the executive branch of the United States. The year-long fellowship focuses on examining and comparing presidential leadership in the current and past administrations.

Each year, Fielding Fellows travel to a presidential library for in-depth research on a chosen U.S. president. They also do a deep dive into Musselman Library’s vast collection of papers documenting Fred Fielding’s years of presidential advising in the Nixon and Reagan administrations, and his service on the 9/11 Commission during the Bush administration. Through meetings with current and former White House and executive branch officials, fellows gain real-world insight into decision-making at the highest level of government. Past Fielding Fellows have also visited the White House, and met with White House Fellows during their annual orientation visit to Gettysburg.

Diplomacy is a key component of presidential leadership. How the Commander-in-Chief engages with America’s allies and enemies is critical to understanding the executive’s role as a global leader. In addition to their research on individual Presidential administrations, the fellowship includes an international diplomacy project. 

The Diplomacy Lab Project allows students to conduct foreign policy research on topics provided by U.S. State Department, then present their findings to diplomats in Washington. Previous Fielding Fellowship projects include:

• 2025-26: Developing Case Studies on the Conduct of Diplomacy and Diplomatic Tradecraft (with the Foreign Service Institute)
• 2024-25: 30 Years of the Summit of the Americas: Successes and Next Steps (with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs)
• 2023-24: Reviewing the Relevance of UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures and Investigative Mechanisms (with Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor)
• 2022-23: Political Drivers of Unlawful Detentions (with Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs)
• 2021-22: Public Opinion of Inward Foreign Direct Investment (with U.S. Embassy in Finland)
• 2020-21: Space Debris Mitigation Technology (with National Science and Technology Council)
• 2019-20: Transportation Infrastructure Policy (with U.S. Embassy in Montenegro)
• 2018-19: Data Protection Laws and International Trade (U.S. Embassy in Munich)
• 2017-18: Policies Against Government Corruption (with U.S. Embassy in Budapest)

Fellows also benefit from the Fielding Center's longstanding partnership with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. The Center, founded at the behest of President Eisenhower, hosts the Presidential Fellows program for college students from across the U.S. and around the world. One Fielding Fellow is chosen each year to represent Gettysburg College in this cohort, which includes a leadership conference, research with potential awards and publication, global engagement and special events with high-level government officials in Washington, D.C.

Schedule

Fielding Fellows will meet weekly. Mutually convenient dates and times will be determined with the program leader after Fellows are accepted. Domestic and international travel are likely, on weekends during the semester and over Spring Break. Fellows may also engage in periodic trips to Washington, D.C. This fellowship is a significant commitment during your senior year. Aside from classes, Fellows are expected to make this program a high priority.

Live, work, and learn in the Nation's Capital

Due to the unique nature of this program, all applicants are required to attend the Washington Summer Fellows Information Session, even students currently participating in an Eisenhower Institute program. This session was specifically designed to address the Washington Summer Fellows experience. Therefore, attendance at one of the Institute’s general information sessions will NOT fulfill this requirement. If you were unable to attend the in-person session on 10/23, please watch the recording in its entirety. 

The Washington Summer Fellowship is an intensive 10-week residential program that prepares students for leadership and service in the tradition of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This program gives motivated students the opportunity to secure internships in the Washington, D.C. area while learning about key policy issues and how the government operates. Through weekly seminars, field visits, and career coaching, fellows gain a deep understanding of the institutions, relationships, and leadership skills necessary for public service and policymaking.

The Fellowship Experience

• Roundtables: Weekly evening sessions with experts on major policy areas, including the economy, foreign policy, defense, trade, labor, national security, technology, crime, health care, civil rights, education, and social issues.
• Field Visits: On select Fridays, students visit locations of academic, historical, or cultural significance, including museums, historic sites, communities, and notable organizations. These visits provide immersive experiences that contextualize learning and introduce students to the city.
  • Dates will be provided in advance so that students can coordinate with their internship employers and take the necessary time off to attend.
• Housing: Fellows live in residential housing managed by the Lutheran College Washington Semester for the 10-week program. The Eisenhower Institute arranges and covers the cost of these accommodations.
  • Fellows share a room with a roommate and an apartment with other college students.
  • If a student’s internship extends beyond the fellowship's dates, LCWS offers the option to extend housing at a discounted rate, well below typical costs for the area. Students must coordinate any extended housing directly with LCWS and cover the associated costs themselves.

Internships

• Placement: Internship placement is a collaborative process. Each student will be assigned an Eisenhower Institute staff advisor to guide them in their search and provide access to professional and alumni networks. The Institute staff will also connect students to our partners with open internship positions. Students are expected to demonstrate that they are a strong fit for these internships, highlighting how their experience aligns with the role and presenting themselves with professionalism and engagement.
• Applications: Students must take ownership of the application process—independently identifying opportunities, following up with potential employers, meeting deadlines, and ensuring that their internship meets the fellowship’s requirements. Institute staff provide guidance, advice, and interview preparation to support students throughout the process.
• Requirement for Participation: Students must secure a D.C.-based internship to participate in the fellowship. Confirmation of placement is due to the Institute by May 1.

• The Future Leaders Program: For the Summer 2026 program, the Eisenhower Institute is partnering with the Partnership for Public Service’s Future Leaders in Public Service Program to strengthen our efforts to place fellows in D.C.-area internships. Representatives from the Partnership will join us on October 23 as part of the Washington Summer Fellows information session to explain this collaboration in greater detail.

  The funded internships available through this partnership are open ONLY to students accepted into the Washington Summer Fellowship. If you are selected as a Summer Fellow and meet the eligibility criteria for the Future Leaders Program, you will be required to submit your Future Leaders application by Friday, December 5, at 11:59 p.m. Please do NOT apply to the Future Leaders Program before being accepted into the Washington Summer Fellowship -- additional details and application instructions will be provided to accepted Fellows.

Associated Costs

• Fellows will be required to submit a $300 housing deposit to LCWS by April 30. Deposits are fully refundable, pending acceptable condition of housing at move-out.
• Students are responsible for transportation to Washington, D.C. at the beginning and end of the program. Fellows are encouraged to coordinate carpool/group travel.
• During the fellowship, students are responsible for personal expenses such as groceries, local transportation, and toiletries. Stipends may be available to help offset living expenses for students with unpaid internships.

Students facing financial hardships should contact the Eisenhower Institute to discuss options. Financial concerns should NOT prevent students from applying to the program.

Expectations

Fellows are required to attend ALL roundtables, field visits, and career coaching sessions. Requests for exceptions must be submitted at least three days in advance. Fellows are also required to meet with their Eisenhower Institute staff advisor weekly throughout the internship search process. Failure to meet program expectations may result in a requirement to reimburse the Institute for housing costs and any other expenses incurred on the student’s behalf.