The Wilson Center offers a limited number of residential appointments for outstanding scholars, policy practitioners, journalists, and public intellectuals to be in residence as Distinguished Fellows. Distinguished Fellows are individuals who are preeminent in their fields and who have made valuable contributions to the world of scholarship and public policy. These individuals hold short-term residential appointments (averaging 3–9 months) enabling them to work on issues involving some aspect of public policy that is highly relevant to a program or activity of the Center. Distinguished Fellows are assigned an office at the Center and will receive a monthly stipend of $10,000. The Center does not provide health insurance and/or travel expenses. Click here to learn more about the Center’s programs and priorities.

Distinguished Fellow appointments are made 3-12 months in advance of the commencement date and are contingent upon the availability of funding and workspace. A complete application consists of an application form, 2-page proposal, and a resume. The Center and the selected Distinguished Fellow will negotiate the dates of residence.

The proposal should discuss:

1. the significance of the proposed research, including importance and originality;
2. the relevance of the project to contemporary public policy; and
3. how the project aligns with the Center’s programmatic goals. 

The President of the Center appoints Distinguished Fellows, on the basis of peer review committee recommendations.

COMPLETE APPLICATION