The Graduate Policy Scholars program kicked off its fifth year with a cohort spanning the Washington University in St. Louis campus. Fifty-seven students were invited to participate in this year’s program. While originally founded as a program for Brown School students, SPI has helped to expand the program across the university, with nearly 1/3 of this year’s participants representing law, architecture and urban design, business administration, medicine and beyond.
At a program kickoff, students met each other and the program advising and coordination team from SPI and the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, shared their policy interests, and goals for the year-long program experience. During the program, students learn and engage with policy as they develop their skills and networks around policy advocacy, analysis and organizing. Students experienced in and new to policy are supported through training opportunities and given chances to learn from a diverse range of policy researchers and practitioners.
Program alum and a student ambassador for the 2021-22 year, Tyler Frank, reflected, “throughout the Graduate Policy Scholars program… I honed my skills in advocacy and activism and gained confidence in networking with policymakers and civic leaders.”
Similarly, Joe Roeder, also a program alum and current student ambassador, added, “I am excited to watch this new group of scholars-in-training sharpen both their practical skills, as well as their belief in themselves, and continue on to do great things in the realm of policy.”
The Social Policy Institute is committed to training and education opportunities for both Washington University in St. Louis and the broader community. The Graduate Policy Scholars program uniquely introduces policy practice outside of the classroom to advance student interest and efficacy.
Welcome to the newest scholars-in-training! Learn more about the program here.