Explore public service in the executive branch.
A cornerstone of the Fielding Center, the Fielding Fellows program provides a select group of Gettysburg College students with an immersive experience centered on the executive branch of the United States. The year-long fellowship focuses on examining and comparing presidential leadership in the current and past administrations.
Each year, Fielding Fellows travel to a presidential library for in-depth research on a chosen U.S. president. They also do a deep dive into Musselman Library’s vast collection of papers documenting Fred Fielding’s years of presidential advising in the Nixon and Reagan administrations, and his service on the 9/11 Commission during the Bush administration. Through meetings with current and former White House and executive branch officials, fellows gain real-world insight into decision-making at the highest level of government. Past Fielding Fellows have also visited the White House, and met with White House Fellows during their annual orientation visit to Gettysburg.
Diplomacy is a key component of presidential leadership. How the Commander-in-Chief engages with America’s allies and enemies is critical to understanding the executive’s role as a global leader. In addition to their research on individual Presidential administrations, the fellowship includes an international diplomacy project completed in concert with the U.S. State Department.
The Diplomacy Lab Project allows students to conduct foreign policy research on topics provided by U.S. State Department, then present their findings to diplomats in Washington. Gettysburg College is one of a select number of educational institutions involved in this public-private partnership. Previous projects include:
- 2025-26: Developing Case Studies on the Conduct of Diplomacy and Diplomatic Tradecraft (with the Foreign Service Institute)
- 2024-25: 30 Years of the Summit of the Americas: Successes and Next Steps (with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs)
- 2023-24: Reviewing the Relevance of UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures and Investigative Mechanisms (with Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor)
- 2022-23: Political Drivers of Unlawful Detentions (with Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs)
- 2021-22: Public Opinion of Inward Foreign Direct Investment (with U.S. Embassy in Finland)
- 2020-21: Space Debris Mitigation Technology (with National Science and Technology Council)
- 2019-20: Transportation Infrastructure Policy (with U.S. Embassy in Montenegro)
- 2018-19: Data Protection Laws and International Trade (U.S. Embassy in Munich)
- 2017-18: Policies Against Government Corruption (with U.S. Embassy in Budapest)
Fellows also benefit from the Fielding Center’s longstanding partnership with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. The Center, founded at the behest of President Eisenhower, hosts the Presidential Fellows program for college students from across the U.S. and around the world. One Fielding Fellow is chosen each year to represent Gettysburg College in this cohort, which includes a leadership conference, research with potential awards and publication, global engagement and special events with high-level government officials in Washington, D.C.
Schedule
Fielding Fellows will meet weekly. Mutually convenient dates and times will be determined with the program leader after Fellows are accepted. Domestic and international travel are likely, on weekends during the semester and over Spring Break. Fellows may also engage in periodic trips to Washington, D.C. This fellowship is a significant commitment during your senior year. Aside from classes, Fellows are expected to make this program a high priority.
Prospective Applicants
The Fielding Fellowship is open to students who will be graduating in May 2027. Students who wish to participate must be available on campus throughout the 2026-27 academic year to participate in in-person meetings, activities, field work, and travel. Selected Fellows must have a passport, or are required to obtain a passport by September 1, 2026. Fellows are responsible for obtaining visas for international travel, if required.