Eisenhower Institute Opens Program Applications for Full-Year and Fall 2025 Programs
The Eisenhower Institute on North Washington Street. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief
The Eisenhower Institute (EI) at Gettysburg College is now accepting applications for seven of its 2025-26 programs. EI describes these programs as “[providing] an immersive, hands-on experience that develops practical skills to prepare students for a lifetime of public, private and non-profit service.”
EI programs are open to all students, regardless of major, and are free of charge. All applicants must attend an in-person or virtual info session for their application to be considered. These will be held on both March 27 and April 1 at 4 p.m. in Mara Auditorium.
Applications are currently open for both full-year and fall semester programs, while spring program applications will open next semester. Students are encouraged to contact ei@gettysburg.edu with any questions. Applications are due on April 6.
Programs currently accepting applications are detailed below:
Building America: Eisenhower’s Interstate System
In this fall semester seminar, students will “examine how American highway policies have contributed to inequality and design solutions for transportation-related harms.”
Professor Chris Rick in the public policy department will run the seminar, which will investigate “how Americans travel and the broad societal consequences of that travel.”
According to their website, the program gives students the opportunity to meet with “transportation professionals, academics, non-profit leaders and everyday Americans” to learn about American transportation and how the intended and unintended negative consequences of transportation policy can be reduced.
At the end of the seminar, students will give a policy presentation to “transportation professionals, community leaders and government professionals to propose a policy solution regarding transportation’s impact on American life today.”
Global Focus: Competing with China
This fall semester program will dive into the relationship between China and the United States.
Led by EI non-resident expert Kevin Nealer, students will study “how the two nations compete economically and politically, with a focus on how evolving policy decisions from the new administration impact our ability to compete.”
The program will begin with an overview of Chinese history and government, as well as the history of U.S.-Chinese interactions.
“Through interactive small-group discussions and exercises with experts, the program sheds light on China’s rise as a global economic power, and the impact of mass urbanization that drives decision-making about its future today,” the program’s website reads.
Students will meet with a variety of experts on China through the program. At the program’s end, students will participate in a simulation to “provide an analysis for a U.S. tech client doing business in China.”
Inside Washington
This semester-long program “provides participants with a deeper understanding of how politics and policy shape initiatives in the nation’s capital” through bi-weekly sessions at the EI Washington D.C. office, located at 818 Connecticut Ave NW, as well as trips around the nation’s capital.
This program is run by alumni Ryan Woodward ’12, who works as the Chief of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the National Volunteer Fire Council, and Tony McComiskey ’14, director of scheduling for Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
The program will conclude with an alumni panel and networking reception in D.C.
Undergraduate Fellowship
This senior-exclusive full-year fellowship gives students “the chance to develop their leadership skills and grow in their knowledge and understanding of public policy.”
This year, the program’s theme will be “the policies of science and innovation,” with a focus on “how government, academic, and industry groups prioritize their financial investments.”
Students “will interact with scientists, policy experts, industry leaders and elected officials. We will emphasize learning from a diversity of perspectives and opinions. Each will provide insights into the data, evaluative tools and expertise that shape the scientific enterprise.”
Students will participate in an international trip over spring break in 2026. At the end of the program, students will present their findings.
Fielding Fellows
Part of the Fielding Center, students participate in “an immersive experience centered on the executive branch of the United States” through the Fielding Fellowship, which focuses on separation of powers, constitutional law and diplomacy.
“Students conduct foreign policy research on topics provided by the U.S. State Department, then present their findings to diplomats in Washington,” according to the EI website.
Fielding Fellows participate in an international spring break trip as well as a visit to a presidential library.
The theme of this full-year fellowship will be shared with selected participants over the summer. Past themes have included “30 Years of the Summit of the Americas: Successes and Next Steps” and “Reviewing the Relevance of UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures and Investigative Mechanisms.”
Strategy and Leadership in Transformational Times
In this year-long program, led by Eisenhower Institute Chairman Emeritus Susan Eisenhower, students “explore case studies from WWI and WWII to understand how effective leadership and strategy shaped outcomes and apply these lessons to address modern challenges.”
During this program, students will develop a project based on a study visit to Normandy, France over spring break.
“We will visit key archives in Washington, D.C. and other locations before leaving for Normandy, France, in March. Interviews and information gathered during this trip will serve as primary research for an upcoming book about war and reconciliation,” the EI website reads.
Environmental Leadership
Students in this year-long program will “investigate the politics of water through the lens of environmental justice, focusing on the San Pedro River restoration efforts.”
The 2025-26 cohort “will build on a three-year field research project” which is located in Bisbee, Arizona. Participants will travel to Arizona during spring break. The program concludes with a “student-run symposium in which seminar participants present the key lessons from their research.”
The program is led by EI non-resident expert Howard Ernst, a professor of political science at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Other Opportunities
- Gettysburg College Leadership Showcase: “Co-hosted with the Garthwait Leadership Center and the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life on April 23, this showcase celebrates community leaders’ accomplishments throughout the year.”
- Student Worker Positions: EI is hiring “Eisenhower Scholar Mentors and Civic Engagement Camp Assistants.” These applications are available on Handshake.
