Expanding access and impact

We are converting a proven pilot into a durable, multi-institutional organization, pooling regional expertise and resources to broaden who gets to pursue research careers in political science.

The opportunity

Partnership for enduring impact

Georgetown University developed and hosted the Institute from 2022 to 2026. Building on that success, we are converting it into a shared regional initiative — the Political Science Pathways Consortium — in formal partnership with the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Our target is a network of 16 PhD-granting universities in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, each contributing annual dues. Georgetown serves as inaugural lead institution (2025–2029), and hosting responsibilities will rotate among member universities beginning in 2027.

Lead institution

Georgetown University, 2025–2029

Member universities

Dues-paying political science departments across the region

Host university

Hosting rotates among members annually, beginning 2027

Partner institution

The American Political Science Association (APSA)

Current consortium members

Georgetown University

Johns Hopkins University

American University

George Mason University

The Catholic University of America

Old Dominion University

What your support makes possible

$75K

Approximate annual cost to operate the Institute at its current scale.

$3,750

Cost per participant across a fully funded week and a year of mentorship.

~3 yrs

Operational support we seek to underwrite this next phase of growth.

Four areas of partnership

We seek institutional and funding partners in four areas

Bridge to full membership

The Institute costs approximately $75,000 per year to run at its current scale. While we build a network of dues-paying partner universities to broaden and sustain access, we seek three years of operational support to underwrite the Institute during this transition and expand what it can do.

Broadening access

We seek to broaden the range of participants we serve throughout our region and to widen access to the Institute.

Tracking impact

We seek support to build a dedicated alumni database and multi-year outcome study, gathering more detailed evidence on how our early-stage intervention shapes research engagement and long-term career trajectories.

Replication

We aim to build an accessible hub of curricula, technical assistance, and partnership-building materials so the consortium model can be replicated in other academic corridors, with support from APSA.

In a time of rapid political, social, and technological change, the research community should be as broad as the questions it studies. We invite partners to join us in building it.

Partner with us →