Deadline: February 1, 2006

2006-2007 CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP

The ASA encourages applications for the 2006-2007 Congressional Fellowship. The Fellowship brings a PhD-level sociologist to Washington, DC, to work as a staff member on a congressional committee or in a congressional office, or as a member of a congressional agency (e.g., the General Accounting Office). This intensive four to six month experience reveals the intricacies of the policy making process to the sociological fellow, and shows the usefulness of sociological data and concepts to policy issues.

The 1996 fellow, Richard Gelles from the University of Rhode Island, said of the fellowship, "This is the most meaningful professional experience I have had in the past 20 years." Gelles worked with the Senate Subcommittee Youth Violence, Chaired by Senator Thompson (R-TN), on the re-authorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act. He also worked as a member of the House Subcommittee on Human Resources writing critical legislative reports about child welfare legislation.

Each applicant should have a general idea about the area of interest, some experience in client-driven work, good writing skills, and a commitment to the policy process. It is helpful to investigate some placement possibilities in advance, or to suggest some in the letter of interest. The application should highlight the link between one's sociological expertise and a current policy issue. Be sure to specify the time span available to do the fellowship placement.

ASA will join with other associations' congressional fellows to offer orientation, meetings, and support for the person selected. The person will work closely with the ASA's Spivack Program on Applied Social Research and Social Policy, with possibilities for congressional staff or press briefings, public speaking, writing issue papers, and other opportunities.

Past and current Fellows include: Peter Cookson, Adelphi University, who worked as staff to the Senate Committee on Education, Labor & Human Resources; Jill Quadagno, Florida State University, who worked as a senior policy advisor on the President's Bipartisan Commission on Entitlements and Tax Reform; Catherine White Berheide, Skidmore College, who worked on staff for Senator Patty Murry (D-WA); Nora Jacobson, Johns Hopkins University, who worked for the Senate Subcommittee on Labor and Human Resources; Lois Monteiro, Brown University, who worked on the House Veteran's Affairs Committee; Susan Rachel Gragg, University of Washington, who worked for Senator Paul Wellstone's (D-MN) office on legislative topics such as campaign finance reform; George Dowdall of St. Joseph's University, who worked in Sen. Joseph Biden's (D-DE) office; Larry Burmeister, University of Kentucky, who worked for Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND); and Joyce Iutcovich, who worked in Sen. Jack Reed's (D-RI) office. Susan Dimock, a graduate of the University of California-San Diego, worked in Sen. Reed's office also. The 2004 Fellow was Marjorie Schaafsma, from the University of Chicago's Sloan Center. She worked for the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. The 2005 Fellow is Tomas Jimenez, a 2004 Harvard University PhD recipient, and he is working for Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) on immigration and poverty issues. The 2006 winner is Erma Lawson, University of North Texas.

The Fellowship is funded by the American Sociological Foundation and is part of the Spivack Program in Applied Social Research and Social Policy.

The stipend for the Fellowship is $15,000. (The Fellow is not an ASA employee and thus there are no additional benefits, including health insurance.)

Applications can be obtained by writing or calling ASA or by downloading one off of the ASA home page (see below). Materials must be postmarked by February 1, 2006. Send a completed application and a vita to:

ASA Congressional Fellowship
1307 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 383-9005

Congressional Fellowship Application Form