Presidential Fellows Alumni
Over the last 50 years, CSPC has had the pleasure of bringing students to Washington, D.C. to learn about leadership and governance, to share their outstanding research and scholarship, to develop as future leaders of character, and to be inspired to careers in public service. The more than 1,500 alumni of the program have gone on to be civil servants, Supreme Court law clerks, teachers, policy experts, software engineers, medical doctors, business leaders, academics, and Members of Congress.
As we move into the next phase of the program’s history, we are doubling down on our efforts to reconnect with our alumni. We hope that you will join us in this effort. Alumni will have the opportunity to network with Fellows from across various cohorts, feed into CSPC’s programming as contributing writers or mentors to new Fellows, and access exclusive CSPC events like our annual awards dinner which honors leading public officials.
Keep in touch by signing up for our mailing list and joining our alumni-only LinkedIn group.
Alumni Spotlight
In the over 50 years we have had an Presidential Fellows Program, it has been our privilege to have seen over 1,500 alumni go on to become civil servants, Supreme Court law clerks, teachers, policy experts, software engineers, medical doctors, business leaders, academics, and Members of Congress. They inspired us then and continue to inspire us today. Check out our Spotlight page to see what some of our alums are up to now.
Support our Fellows
Become A Mentor
A key cornerstone of the Fellowship is mentorship. Mentors help guide Fellows through the writing process and offer both academic and career advice. We invite alumni to give back to the Presidential Fellows program and join us as mentors for current Fellows.
To sign up, contact us at fellows@thepresidency.org. For more information about becoming a mentor, please review the frequently asked questions below.
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Mentors serve as a resource for both the Fellow’s research paper and broader career and professional development. All mentors should be prepared to provide some level of research support if needed, but the level of involvement will vary based on the Fellow’s needs and the mentor’s availability and experience.
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Depending on the Fellow’s needs, research support might range from discussing research questions and serving as a sounding board to reviewing outlines, sections, or full drafts and providing substantive feedback. Fellows remain responsible for researching, writing, and completing their own papers.
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Depending on the Fellow’s interests and your experience, conversations might include career exploration, internships and jobs, graduate school, networking, leadership development, or other professional goals.
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While each mentor-mentee relationship differs, mentors should generally be prepared to dedicate approximately 15 hours total of your time, over the course of the 9 month Fellowship, per mentee.
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CSPC will make matches using information provided by both mentors and Fellows, including research interests and needs, career goals, and mentorship preferences. While we cannot guarantee every preference, our goal is to create thoughtful pairings based on overall fit.
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You do not need to be an expert in the exact topic the student is researching. More than anything, students will need help with developing an appropriate research plan, identifying a precise and narrow research question, and constructing a coherent argument.
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No. Mentors and Fellows may connect via Zoom, phone, or in person depending on location and availability. Mentors are also invited to join us during the Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., but participation is not required.
Donate to the Program
Alumni of the CSPC Presidential Fellows Program play a vital role in sustaining and strengthening the next generation of leaders. By giving back, Fellows can directly support program funding—from programming to expanded opportunities for future cohorts. Contributions of any size help ensure the program remains accessible, impactful, and forward-looking.
When you donate $100 or more, you will be recognized in our Leadership Circle for your essential contribution!
We’re also thrilled to now offer a new way to donate through monthly sustaining donations. Click the drop down menu in the donation block to change your donation frequency.
Your support helps to shape the next generation of civic-minded leaders!
Leadership Circle
Dr. Aamir Hussain, 2013-2014
Oliver Thoma, 2010-2011
Dr. Shereka Banton, 2013-2014
Ana Nikolic Paul, 2010-2011
Loren Finegold, 1994-1995
Chrissy Garton, 2004-2005
Neil Stauffer, 2000-2001
Kevin Alonso, 2004-2005
Dr. Adewole Adamson, 2004-2005
Matthew Gorton, 2001-2002
Matthew Merkle, 2002-2003
Sheila Milon, 2021-2022
Dennis Schmelzer, 2005-2006
Colin Gwin, 2000-2001
Thomas and Meghann Chandler, 2010-2011
Sponsor A Fellow
CSPC is eager to bring the Presidential Fellows program to new schools and expand the program at current partner schools. We work with a number of private individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund student participation. If you are interested in supporting the Fellows program at your alma mater or any other academic institution, please contact Sydney Johnson Martindale at sydney.johnson@thepresidency.org.
Looking for an outlet to share your analysis and insight into current events? Consider joining CSPC as a contributing writer. Alumni can submit op-eds for our biweekly CSPC Dispatch or request assistance in placing an op-ed with an established media outlet. Contact us at fellows@thepresidency.org to pitch an idea or learn more information.
BecomE a Contributing Writer
Year: 2005-2006
School: University of North Georgia