obama

Zuckerman Fellowships

Leadership for the Common Good

The challenges we face in our public schools and public health systems, as well as in government at all levels, are too complicated to be solved without the insight and commitment of leaders with the highest-quality professional training. But for many who have a strong aptitude for public service, the opportunity costs associated with acquiring the necessary training are too high.

In response to this problem, the Zuckerman Fellows Program equips people from the fields of medicine, law, and business to provide leadership for the common good by making it possible for them to pursue public service degrees at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, School of Public Health, or Kennedy School of Government.

The Zuckerman Fellowship annually provides up to 25 recipients with full tuition and health insurance fees for one year plus a $30,000 stipend. Fellows are selected on the basis of:

  • leadership abilities
  • intellectual and academic achievement
  • commitment to public service.

In addition to their formal coursework, Zuckerman Fellows participate in a yearlong cocurricular program that includes small-group discussions with members of the Harvard faculty as well as other leading academics and practitioners, personal and professional skill-building workshops, and a field trip. Taken together, these interdisciplinary activities help the Fellows integrate the classroom learning with their individual career plans and interests.

Candidates for the Zuckerman Fellowship must have, or be working toward, a professional graduate degree in business, medicine, or law, and must also be interested in pursuing an additional degree in education, government, or public health at Harvard University. Please see the “Applying” page for complete information about eligibility.

News

Stephen Breyer: The Mechanics of Justice

Associate Justice Stephen Breyer welcomed the Zuckerman Fellows to the Supreme Court on their field trip to Washington, D.C., speaking with them about the court's work and the tools judges use to shape their opinions.

Dr. Jim Yong Kim: Paths to Better Global Health

On November 15, 2006, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Professor of Public Health, joined the Zuckerman Fellows for a talk about his work with Partners in Health. A compelling and passionate speaker, Dr. Kim described how he and his colleagues, driven by their commitment to social justice, changed the dynamic of global health in the 1990s by questioning basic assumptions about what is possible in treating poor patients.

Pete Rouse: A Career on the Hill

Meeting with the Zuckerman Fellows on their trip to Washington, D.C., Senator Obama's chief of staff, Pete Rouse, surveyed the skills needed to work on Capitol Hill and the challenges of a career in government and politics.

John Podesta: Making Policy That Benefits All Americans

John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., and former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, hosted the Zuckerman Fellows at the Center during their April field trip. Podesta, a veteran of the political system, spoke with clarity and passion about the country’s urgent need to make better policy and gave the Fellows a realistic appraisal of the challenges that face anyone who wants to make policy improvements.