The Foreign Policy, Strategy and Statecraft Program is a hub for policy engaged research, teaching and dialogue on U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. At a time of rapid geopolitical change, it brings together a dynamic community of students, faculty and practitioners committed to evaluating existing approaches and developing new strategic
options.
FPSS bridges the gap between scholarship, education and practice. Students, faculty and fellows engage directly with the debates and decision-makers shaping U.S. policy via events and research. The program combines rigorous academic inquiry with sustained interaction with policymakers to create a space where competing perspectives on the future of statecraft can be tested and refined.
The program offers targeted professional development and hands-on mentorship for undergraduates and master’s students at a formative stage in their careers. Working with faculty and visiting fellows, students are not only introduced to how foreign policy works but challenged to assess alternatives, inform evidence-based decisions and translate analysis into action.
We’re shaping the next generation of foreign policy thinkers, leaders and doers by connecting classroom learning with real-world challenges. That begins with engaging students early in their careers and bringing together scholars and practitioners willing to think differently about the future of U.S. foreign policy.Program Director Josh Shifrinson
Faculty, fellow and student-led research assesses the strengths and shortcomings in U.S. foreign and national security policy in order to develop innovative options for the nation. The program supports applied analysis that explains policy outcomes while exploring alternative approaches to pressing challenges. Through publications and events, FPSS connects this research to ongoing debates in Washington and beyond.
FPSS is unique in offering two different fellowship programs that integrate teaching, research and professional development. Visiting practitioner fellows contribute to the program’s research agenda and mentor students across disciplines. Student fellows conduct pathbreaking research on their own and in collaboration with faculty and practitioners. They also drive events and take courses that prepare them to be effective policy practitioners at a time when new strategic thinking on U.S. grand strategy is needed. This model emphasizes sustained collaboration rather than one-time engagement, allowing students to learn directly from those shaping policy in real time.
Working closely with faculty and visiting fellows, students develop core skills in analytical writing, policy memo drafting and briefing policy audiences. These experiences combine rigorous research with sustained mentorship, helping students refine their interests while preparing for advanced study and careers in foreign policy and national security.
FPSS organizes simulations, case studies and strategy workshops that place students in real-world policy scenarios. These exercises emphasize structured analysis, teamwork and decision-making under uncertainty – skills central to careers in foreign and national security policy. Small-group discussions and moderated forums enable substantive exchange rather than lecture-style events.
Through internships and connections to alumni and practitioner networks in Washington, FPSS helps students translate academic training into professional opportunities in government, think tanks and international organizations.