PPIA / NextGen Policy Academy

A fully funded, three-week accelerator that equips college juniors with the skills, network, and confidence to make real impact in public policy.

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Summer Policy Academy

Co-designed by PPIA and   The Volcker Alliance, this fully funded, three-week academy puts you one week in Washington, D.C., followed by two weeks at the University of California, Berkeley where you’ll sharpen analysis, data, and persuasive policy writing to advance equity, sustainability, and justice.

Key Dates

Deadline: November 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM

One application covers PPIA Junior Summer Institute and the PPIA/NextGen Policy Academy — just indicate your interest in the Policy Academy.


Program Dates (Tentative): June 15 - July 3, 2026

Apply

Your Three-Week Journey

See exactly how you’ll spend each week — from Washington D.C. immersion to the UC Berkeley intensive.

  • Week 1: Washington DC

    WASHINGTON DC IMMERSION


    Kick off with a one‑week policy boot camp in Washington, D.C. — see how policy gets made, meet the people behind it, and grow your network.


    Field Trips: Go behind the scenes at the GAO, State Department, Capitol Hill, and the Smithsonian.

    Policy Talks: Hear from practitioners and guest speakers about how decisions get made.

    Mentorship: Connect with leaders of color and public‑sector pros for guidance and feedback.

    Cohort Building: Team activities and skills workshops that set expectations and help you thrive.

  • Week 2 - 3: UC Berkeley

    CAMPUS INTENSIVE


    Deepen your toolkit through seminars and hands‑on studios focused on democracy policy at the intersection of policy and law.


    Skills

    Policy design, memo writing, persuasive communication

    Quantitative literacy and data visualization

    Constructive dialogue and collaborative problem‑solving

    Legal mechanisms that turn policy into law


    Topics

    Public policy and law; the “democracy gap”

    Voting & elections; speech & expression

    Co‑governance at state & local levels

    Citizenship, media / information security, institutional trust


PPIA Fellowship: Building a Strong Foundation in Public Affairs

The foundation of the PPIA Fellowship, the JSI experience builds knowledge in economics, statistics, domestic & international policy studies, and leadership topics. During their time at their JSI, students will build valuable relationships with like-minded peers, graduate schools, and employers alike.


JSIs take place at one of four prestigious partner campuses.