Deadline: October 30, 2026
Applications are open for the Jerome R. Lewis Legislative Fellows Program 2027. The Jerome R. Lewis Legislative Fellows Program offers students a remarkable range of opportunities to gain professional skills and experience. While not all Fellows may plan on careers in government, most expect to benefit from an insider’s awareness of how the public sector functions.
Fellows will have the opportunity to:
- Affect current legislation by providing timely, nonpartisan, in-depth information on critical issues
- Become acquainted with many important state leaders in both the General Assembly and the executive branch
- Develop an understanding of the legislative process that will be useful in a wide variety of careers in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors
Benefits
Through this PAID fellowship program, Fellows:
- Make important contacts with government officials and community leaders, expanding their professional networks.
- Work directly with legislators and legislative staff, conducting research and staffing committees on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from January 12 to June 30, 2027. An orientation will be conducted during the first full week of January.
- Travel to Dover (conditions permitting) from UD is by vanpool, with Fellows leaving campus at 11:00 a.m. and returning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- Take a three-credit seminar, State Government: Management and Policy, as an opportunity to link their experiences with academic coursework.
Eligibility
- Any full-time master’s degree student or especially qualified junior- or senior-level undergraduate student (GPA 3.4+) from partnering universities is eligible to apply.
- Applicants should possess a strong background in degree programs such as public administration, public policy, political science, sociology, urban affairs, communications, international relations, criminal justice, history, economics, or business administration.
Application
Application and supporting documents include:
- Legislative Fellows Application Guide
- Legislative Fellows Program Application – Online Form
- Recommendation Online Form
- Recommendation Printable Form
- Dept. Chair/Program Director Confidential Comments Online Form
- Permission Form for Research Assistants
For more information, visit Jerome R. Lewis Legislative Fellows Program.
