Gary L. McDowell Institute 2025-26 Student Fellows Program
True to the principles that inspire the McDowell Institute, the Student Fellows Program is designed to enrich the intellectual experience of students interested in political, social, and economic thought. Students selected to be fellows will join an ideologically diverse community of curious people who love to read interesting books, think freely about big questions, and speak openly about provocative ideas with other students, professors, and prominent guest lecturers. As more than one fellow has remarked, “This is what college should be like.”
The 2025-26 fellows will participate in a co-curricular reading group that will discuss New York Times Opinion columnist Ross Douthat's book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. Fellows will explore and debate the argument that Douthat makes that in light of what we know today, it should be harder to not have faith than to have it.
Fellows will also participate in small group discussions with McDowell Institute guest lecturers Diana Schaub and Greg Lukianoff.
At the start of each fall semester, students interested in becoming fellows are invited to apply. Online applications will open shortly after students return to campus. Questions may be directed to Gary L. McDowell Institute co-directors Dr. Dan Palazzolo and Dr. Terry Price, or program coordinator Heidi Thompson. In September, a selection committee reviews applications and invites new fellows to join the program for the academic year.
2025-26 Seminar Leaders
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Dr. Kevin Cherry, |
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Dr. Erik Craft, |
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Dr. Jessica Flanigan, Professor of Leadership Studies and Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL), Richard L. Morrill Chair in Ethics and Democratic Values |
2025-26 Scholar-for-the-Day
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Ross Douthat, |
2024-25 Student Fellows
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Brett Barnes, '25, mathematics and computer science |
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Sawyer Bernard, '27, PPEL |
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CJ Blastos, '27, leadership studies and political science |
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Emma Brashear, '27, undeclared |
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Nora Buell, '25, leadership studies and chemistry |
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Ethan Callahan, '27, political science |
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Shelby Campbell, '25, business administration and PPEL |
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Sam Chanenson, '26, psychology |
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Kate Chasin, '26, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Rose Collins, '27, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Melanie Day, '25, leadership studies and political science |
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Jack DeKorte, '26, leadership studies and political science |
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TJ Elrod, '28, undeclared |
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Abigail Fears, '28, undeclared |
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Maddie Fellner, '25, leadership studies and political science |
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Zack Filene, '27, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Grace Gaiser, '26, political science |
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Jonathan Garner, '25, political science and philosophy |
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Claire Geibel, '26, business administration |
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Adrian Grubbs, '26, political science |
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Holden Habermacher, '27, global studies |
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Lay'la Harmon, '25, leadership studies and sociology |
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Rodrigo Herrera, '25, political science |
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Anna-Laura Houston, '25, leadership studies and English |
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Theo Johnson, '26, English and PPEL |
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Quinton Jones, '27, undeclared |
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Evan Jordan, '27, undeclared |
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Natalia Jung, '28, undeclared |
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Adam Kasti, '27, leadership studies and political science |
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Carter Ketchum, '28, undeclared |
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Lindsay Kramer, '25, leadership studies and health studies |
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Kalina Kulig, '26, PPEL |
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Harrison Lehman, '25, leadership studies and PPEL
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Taylor Levy, '27, PPEL |
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Malena Lo Prete, '26, art history and political science |
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Asa Mahn, '28, undeclared |
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Liv Mann, '27, leadership studies, global studies, and Russian studies |
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Sarah Marghub, '27, undeclared |
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John McConnell, '28, undeclared |
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Haleigh McPeak, '27, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Veronica Melendi, '27, leadership studies and sociology |
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Liz Milliot, '26, PPEL and leadership studies |
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Ella-Brooke Morgan, '27, undeclared |
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Cheryl Oppan, '25, political science and leadership studies |
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John Paschold, '25, political science and French |
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Marcela Pizzato, '27, PPEL and leadership studies |
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Will Richards, '26, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Olga Rokhlenko, '27, undeclared |
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Nick Ryan, '27, leadership studies and PPEL |
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Katie Sinclair, '26, political science |
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Emily Snyder, '26, political science and history |
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Lily Tashjian, '27, political science and psychology |
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Rocio Tenorio, '27, undeclared |
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Charlotte Tisdale, '26, leadership studies and health studies |
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Josef Vigorita, '26, leadership studies and health studies |
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Josh Walker, '26, PPEL |
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Hannah-Claire Ward, '26, psychology |
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Ella-Grace Will, '26, psychology |