Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program

The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) is a not-for-profit that has been supporting efforts to increase diversity in public service for over 40 years. PPIA believes that our society is best served by public managers, policy makers, and community leaders who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives. PPIA's mission is to cultivate the next generations of diverse public service and international affairs professionals by investing in their education, essential skills, and networks to effect domestic and global change. We provide underrepresented students support through our Junior Summer Institute Fellowship, Public Service Weekends, Public Service Expo, and Graduate School Consortium. Each year, PPIA seeks out high-potential undergraduate students from universities across the country to participate in the intensive seven-week Junior Summer Institute (JSI) before their senior year. During this fully-funded program, fellows are equipped with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in graduate school and ultimately, in influential roles serving the public good. JSIs are offered at six sites across the country including University of California - Berkeley, Princeton University, University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, University of Washington, and Carnegie Mellon University. Once a student has successfully completed their JSI, they join an alumni network of more than 4,000 leaders. In addition to the opportunities that this network provides for mentoring and career development, our alumni have the opportunity to receive financial support for their graduate school education if they attend one of the programs in our Graduate School Consortium.