Established in 1997, the Senior Fellows Program is the premier public engagement program of the School of Public Affairs. Its purpose is to connect the world of political and policy action to education for the public interest. Each year, eight to ten newly selected distinguished leaders from across sectors are inducted into the program. Fellows are invited to contribute their time and expertise through a career-site visit program, professional mentorship of two to three current graduate students, and a policy briefing on leadership, management, or a topic relevant to their field of expertise. The Senior Fellows represent a wide variety of policy interests: health, youth, trade, security, education, transportation, and poverty - from all political viewpoints and many social backgrounds. Students who participate in the program are selected in a competitive process and matched to a Fellow at the recommendation of graduate advisors and faculty in their respective departments.

The program includes professional site-visits in which School of Public Affairs graduate students visit the workplace of our Senior Fellows. This offers current students a unique opportunity to shadow Senior Fellows in careers or areas of specialization of interest to them. Activities may include informational interviews with the Fellow, interviews with key staff, a tour of the facilities, attending staff and/or board meetings, and attending an off-site event such as a conference. This opportunity will expose students to leaders and senior level managers from whom they can gain invaluable career guidance and also supplement, in a very practical way, their academic course study.

The mentor component of the Senior Fellows Program was created by the first class of Senior Fellows. The idea was conceived during an all-Fellows dinner when several of the Fellows asked for more opportunities to work closely with the students. In the third year, a "faculty partner" component was added to the program. Each Senior Fellow is partnered with one or more faculty members who have the same subject interests and who can be a resource to the Senior Fellow and connect him or her more deeply to the School and its programs. Similarly, the Fellow offers resources and contacts to the faculty partners involved.

During the past 14 years, 176 senior fellows have mentored more than 560 students. About 20 faculty members a year act as faculty partners. Each new Senior Fellows class is announced in the Fall. Graduate students compete for the mentor program by writing an essay; assignments are made based on compatible subject matter interests and commitment to the mentorship program. The formal program begins with an October breakfast where the Senior Fellows, their students, and their faculty partners meet. Many students visit Fellows at their work site or attend relevant conferences and seminars during the academic year. One of the high points of each Senior Fellow's year is his or her policy briefing, done individually or in panels of experts on topics of mutual interest. Senior Fellows meet again formally with their students and faculty partners at a small lunch that precedes each policy briefing. The briefings are open to all School of Public Affairs students, the UCLA campus community, and invited guests.

Contact Information: 
VC Powe, Executive Director, External Programs
powe@publicaffairs.ucla.edu