Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Build connections for your career in public service

The NextGen Civic Leader Corps is a collaborative effort between the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center in Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Through coursework, experiential learning, and professional network building, the program allows students to recognize and deepen their commitment to community engagement and public service. The program is part of a growing network of similar program across the country powered by the Volcker Alliance Next Generation Service Corps.

We offer guided advising, programming and financial support to diverse undergraduate students who are socially engaged & community-rooted leaders. The program offers a semi-structured pathway that combines academic coursework, peer networking, and career exploration in government, non-profit, and social venture organizations.

Program participants complete three program elements and earn a modest scholarship.  

Public Policy and Leadership Coursework

NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants are required to take a minimum of one course in the Public Policy or Leadership minor. This coursework provides an academic anchor for your public service career exploration, builds your understanding of theoretical frameworks, and can prepare you to talk about your community-engagement and leadership experiences in job interviews and/or graduate school applications.  

Choose how to complete this requirement:

  • LEAD 100: Learning Leadership (Autumn or Winter)  
  • PUBPOL 201: Introduction to Public Policy & Governance (Autumn or Winter)  
  • PUB POL 299: Cross-sector Leadership (Spring and Summer)  
  • Many courses outside the PUBPOL or LEAD course headings will also count!  
  • Electives that count for either minor may also count toward this requirement. This includes many courses outside the PUBPOL or LEAD course headings.  

  NGCLC participants are strongly encouraged to consider a minor in Leadership or Public Policy.  

Career Building Experiences

In addition to the context and connections that NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants will get through courses and peer connections, they also engage in one non-profit or government career building opportunity. These career building experiences will connect participants with professionals in a field of interest, build personal and professional networks, and in many cases allow students to gain practical experience working in a nonprofit or government organization.  

Choose how to complete the requirement:   

A paid or unpaid public service internship  

Career mentorship program  

Signature Cohort Events

Signature cohort events allow NextGen Civic Leader Corps participants to build their networks, engage with new ideas, and consider how others approach pressing social issues and cultural conversations. Events span varied categories, including direct service, network building, and social/cultural events. Many signature events are facilitated specifically for NextGen Civic Leader Corps members and offer direct connections with notable community leaders, public policy practitioners, and/or elected officials.    

We ask program participants to attend at least two signature cohort events each academic year; these events are a great way to get started with the program and meet the advisors! 

Some events are ticketed and/or have limited capacity. Please see RSVP instructions below for these details. 

  • Wednesday, March 30, 2022 // 6:30pm: Public Lecture with Jordan Marie Daniel & Rosalie Fish: Running for The Future
    • Engagement will take place in Meany Performing Arts Center, register here
  • Wednesday, April 6, 2022 // 5:30pm: Civic Cocktail: Looking Back to Look Forward: Reflecting on Seattle’s Civic Evolution
    • Engagement location at Town Hall Seattle, register here
  • Wednesday, April 13, 2022 // 6-7pm-Join us for Louder Than Words: ‘Nurses save the day. Again.’ Featuring Patty Hays and Joycelyn Thomas moderated by Sally Clark to discuss the intersection of racism as a public health crisis and COVID further upending hard-won stability for low-income communities, and how the UW’s School of Nursing is establishing the Center for Antiracism to address this critical issue. We secured limited tickets for an in-person attendance, those who would like to join Sari Feinberg, NextGen intern, can email nextgenleader@uw.edu to RSVP by April 12.
  • Friday, April 22, 2022 // 12-1:30pm–Join the Spring Dean’s Forum on Race & Public Policy, a regular series hosted by the Evans School focusing on how race influences the shaping and implementation of public policy. Dean Sandfort and guests will focus on Assessing where we are in racial reckoning: Implications for Public Policy. Register here.
  • Thursday, April 28, 2022 // 7:30pm: An Evening with Masha Gessen
    • Engagement will take place in Kane Hall, Room 130. register here
  • Friday, May 6, 2022 // 11-1:30pm: NextGen Civic Leader Corps Program launch and community celebration

Scholarship Details

Program participants who completed required components are encouraged to complete the checklist from to document completion of the three required components by April 30, 2022. Upon review those approved will receive a scholarship disbursement in early May.

How to Join & office hours

The program is open to all University of Washington undergraduates. Students with a demonstrated history of work with underserved and underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to consider participation.  

Students that join NextGen Civic Leader Corps and complete all three program requirements will be eligible for a modest ($500) scholarship during Spring Quarter 2022. 

Attend any of the Signature Cohort Events listed above to meet our advisors and get started in the program! You can also fill out this interest form and we will stay in touch about program opportunities.   

Fill out NextGen completion checklist from to document completion of the three required components of NextGen Civic Leader Corps. We will review the form monthly and loop back with any questions or clarifications. Everyone who completes these requirements by April 30, 2022, will receive a scholarship disbursement in early May.

Interested students can email our program advisers–Amen and Kathryn–at nextgenleader@uw.edu with questions or to learn more about any part of the NextGen Civic Leader Corps program! 

Office location@ Mary Gates Hall #171

Please note office hours for SPQ are Thursdays from 9:30am-11:00am. If you wish to schedule a meeting outside of this time, please contact us by email, nextgenleader@uw.edu.