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The Clark-Fox Policy Institute at the WashU Brown School kicked off its 2026–27 Graduate Policy Scholars (GPS) Program on September 30, welcoming 81 new Scholars-in-Training from across the university.
Representing seven of WashU’s nine schools, this year’s cohort brings together graduate and professional students from a wide range of academic disciplines, backgrounds, and interests, all united by a desire to make a difference through policy.
Now in its ninth year, the Graduate Policy Scholars Program has inducted more than 400 students since its inception. The yearlong experiential learning program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to engage in the policymaking process. Through interactive trainings, conversations with policymakers and community leaders, and hands-on learning experiences, scholars explore how research and evidence can inform policy decisions and drive meaningful change.
Throughout the academic year, Scholars-in-Training will participate in policy-focused workshops covering topics such as how government works, policy analysis, and communicating effectively with policymakers. Students will also engage in policy events and discussions that broaden their understanding of pressing social challenges and the opportunities to address them through policy.
As a culminating experience, each scholar will develop a policy communication product, such as a policy brief, op-ed, or policy alert, translating their knowledge and interests into a tool for informing policy conversations. Students who successfully complete the program requirements will be formally inducted as Graduate Policy Scholars in May 2027.
The GPS Program reflects the Clark-Fox Policy Institute’s commitment to preparing the next generation of policy-engaged professionals and strengthening connections between research, policy, and practice.
The Institute looks forward to supporting this year’s cohort as they develop their policy skills, build connections across disciplines, and discover new ways to make an impact through policy.