Title:Empowering students to explore careers in public service

This February, 43 scholars and alumni from the Paul F. Pelosi Scholars Initiative gathered for their annual meeting with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (H’02) and Paul Pelosi (SFS’62) (Parents’88,’89,’91,’95). The group discussed the critical importance of public service in today’s world—and the scholars’ drive to have a positive impact.

Established through the generous support and leadership of the Pelosis, who spearheaded a fundraising effort in 2018, the Pelosi Scholars Initiative seeks to identify undergraduates in the Walsh School of Foreign Service who are committed to a career in public service. Scholars receive internship support, participate in professional development opportunities, and gain access to accomplished practitioners and experts.

Since 2019, the program has empowered nearly 100 Pelosi Scholars with the professional skillsets, networks, and hands-on experiences necessary to lead in the public sector, advancing Georgetown’s commitment to build a stronger, more ethical society.

Nurturing students’ commitment to the common good

The Pelosi Scholars Initiative is an expansion of a program founded in 2015, when then-student Megan Murday (F’15) and her classmates observed a difference between the defined private sector recruiting process and the limited paths to paid internships in direct service, think tanks, nonprofits, and government agencies. Hoping to shrink barriers for students pursuing unpaid summer internships in the public sector, student leaders collaborated with stakeholders across the School of Foreign Service to launch an initiative providing summer stipends and professional development opportunities.

Today, the Pelosi Scholars Initiative has become a crucial avenue for nurturing talent dedicated to the common good. Students in the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service Program may apply as a sophomore or junior. The initiative selects applicants who embody the Jesuit value of “people for others” and have demonstrated a commitment to public service. (Meet the 2026 Pelosi Scholars.)

The financial resources, networking activities, and training opportunities provided through the initiative have had a demonstrable impact: Pelosi Scholars are working in public service at more than double the rate of the overall B.S. in Foreign Service graduate population.

Bringing public- and private-sector internships onto the same plane

For many students, interning and living in a major city without earning wages is an insurmountable hurdle. Pelosi Scholars not only receive support and coaching in obtaining summer internships relevant to their academic and professional interests but also a stipend to make an unpaid, full-time summer internship financially feasible.

The stipend amount varies, and students with paid or part-time opportunities receive prorated funding. Pelosi Scholars have secured meaningful roles across the public service spectrum—in federal, state, or local government; at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other service-oriented organizations; and at some policy think tanks, though the focus remains on public/government sector service.

Last year’s Scholar cohort pursued a range of local, national and international opportunities, interning at organizations such as the International Organization for Migration, the Atlantic Council, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. They experienced foreign policy in action, engaged in development initiatives, and contributed to economic and security strategies at the local and federal levels.

Connecting seasoned and aspiring public servants

Another core element of the Pelosi Scholars Initiative is the chance to interact with public servants. Scholars attend a weekly class during their spring semester, developing their career skills and hearing from guest speakers. They participate in formal networking sessions, visit Capitol Hill and agencies to explore future career opportunities, and connect with Hoyas working in the field. All current and alumni Scholars are also invited to a meeting with Paul and Nancy Pelosi. Scholars also commit to serving as mentors for subsequent cohorts and participating in future teaching and networking opportunities.

Scholars say they greatly value these community-building opportunities. “I think the stand-out aspect of the Pelosi Scholars Program for me has been meeting like-minded peers, who I may not have met in another setting,” said Harnoor Sachar (F’26), a 2024 Pelosi Scholar who is interested in pursuing public health, in a video highlighting the Pelosi Scholar experience. … “[The program] brings together people who have the same public service, public good mindset, but not necessarily the same trajectory or the same path of doing so.”