By Ella Prieto, Editor-in-Chief
On Monday, the Eisenhower Institute (EI) opened the application process for its 2026 programs, which include five spring and two summer opportunities. EI stated that through these programs, “students participate in small group conversations with experts and peers, apply and share knowledge through project-based work, and engage in travel and experiential learning.”
These are open to all students, free of charge. However, all applicants must attend an in-person or virtual EI Info Session. Students are encouraged to contact ei@gettysburg.edu with any questions.
Applications close Nov. 2. For students interested in EI’s fall and full-year 2026-27 programs, those applications will open in March.
Programs currently accepting applications are detailed below:
Spring 2026 Programs
Gender and Leadership: Explore how gender influences leadership, collaboration, and professional success in a weeklong, immersive study trip to Washington DC, January 12-16. All genders, class years, and majors are encouraged to apply.
Economic Transformation: Competing Models in a Changing World: Explore why some countries thrive while others stagnate in this semester-long program. Examine how national economic policies—spanning trade, tariffs, education, infrastructure, social welfare, and regulation—shape both a country’s economic performance and the well-being of its society.
Emerging Threats in National Security: Examine the evolving landscape of U.S. national security in this semester-long seminar. Investigate non-traditional threats such as space competition, climate displacement, identity in the military, and transnational cartels. Through case studies, debates, and discussions with national security practitioners, you’ll analyze the legality, ethics, and strategies behind current policies.
Global Focus: Beyond the Middle Eastern Mystique: Discover the history, culture, and contemporary dynamics of the Middle East in this semester-long program. Study how religion, gender, empire, and conflict have shaped the region, and investigate stereotypes that often obscure its complexity.
Inside Washington: Experience politics up close through this semester-long program in Washington, D.C. Study how polarization shapes governance across institutions, from Congress to the courts to the executive branch, while engaging with guest speakers and recent alumni who work across various branches of government.
Summer Opportunities
Washington Summer Fellowship: Live and work in the nation’s capital while learning the basics of leadership. Explore a full range of public policy issues in weekly expert seminars and field visits. WSF runs from May 22–July 31, 2026.
Inside Civil Rights: Explore civil rights moments that impact social justice today by participating in this week-long study trip May 11-15. Applications for ICR open February 2026, stay tuned for more details.
Additional EI Opportunities
For students interested in EI opportunities on campus, there are two upcoming events:
- An Eisenhower Open House at the Eisenhower Institute from 2-4 PM on Friday, Oct. 24. Students will be able to learn about projects and programs, meet staff and explore EI’s facilities.
- The Eisenhower Leadership Conference, a full-day professional development experience with insights from the life and leadership of President Eisenhower, will take place on Nov. 15. It features talks by Expert-in-Residence Susan Eisenhower and a keynote by Michael Mason.
EI is also hiring two Program Operations Assistants, with students able to apply through Handshake.
