The IOP Pritzker Fellows program presents a unique opportunity for public service practitioners from around the world to bring their passion and expertise to the next generation of leaders.
At a time when political culture is overwhelmed by division, distrust, and discord, the Pritzker Fellows Program offers a different model - marked by the shared values of civility, free expression, rigorous inquiry, and public service.
While on campus, Pritzker Fellows - a diverse cohort of former elected officials, campaign and policy strategists, journalists, civic organizers and others - lead weekly seminars, hold office hours and spend time with students across various social functions.
These 8-week on-campus residencies provide some of the most valuable experiences not only for our students but for the fellows themselves, through their engagements with students and faculty at one of the nation’s greatest universities in the dynamic city of Chicago.
Criteria to become a Pritzker Fellow include the applicant’s background in politics or public service, as well as an ability to work well with students, staff, faculty and the Fellows cohort. Fellows are chosen via our online application process and through targeted recruitment.
IOP Pritzker Fellows immerse themselves in the IOP and the broader campus and Chicago communities. There are three main components to the fellowship:
Fellows lead weekly, 75-minute, non-credit and off-the-record seminars in which they unpack a topic or series of events through the prism of their own careers and experiences. Seminars are open to current UChicago students only, and they are conversations, not classes. Fellows often opt for conversations with invited guests, simulations, tabletop exercises and other creative formats in addition to standard presentations.
Fellows hold 4 hours of office hours each week. These are 20-minute, one-on-one appointments with current UChicago students to discuss everything from career advice to the news of the day.
Fellows have many opportunities to engage with all corners of the IOP, various student organizations and campus partners. They can audit courses and utilize campus amenities such as the library and recreational center, among others. Additionally, we encourage Fellows to take advantage of the many attractions that the Hyde Park neighborhood and city of Chicago have to offer and help facilitate those activities.
All applicants should review our fellowship FAQs before submitting an application.
FAQs are accessible here or via the button below. Please reach out to Ashley Jorn, Deputy Director of the Pritzker Fellows Program at ashleyjorn@uchicago.edu with any questions.
Applications for the Winter-Spring 2026 Fellows Cohort are due on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Dates for the Winter-Spring 2026 fellowship are as follows: orientation the week of January 26; winter quarter seminars/office hours from February 2-27; and spring quarter seminars/office hours from March 23 - April 17 (Fellows and students have a 3-week break in early March). Please contact Jennifer Steinhauer, Senior Director of Speaker Series & Pritzker Fellows, at steinhauer@uchicago.edu with any questions.
