Council Summer Fellows Program
Program Background
The Montgomery County Council’s paid ten-week Summer Fellows Program is a unique opportunity that enables graduate students to gain real world local government experience across multiple fields. Summer 2023 will be our seventh consecutive year hosting the program. We welcome students in policy-related graduate programs (policy, public administration, planning, public health, law, etc.) who will have completed their first year of study by summer 2023 to apply. Individuals who will have graduated by summer 2023 are not eligible for this program, but please check out our Year Long Fellows Program for recent graduates.
The program is centrally coordinated by the County Council and the Council will always host Fellows. However, placement availability throughout the rest of County government changes yearly based on need and interest. Past Fellows have worked within these four independent organizations:
- Montgomery County Council
- Montgomery County Executive Branch
- Office of the County Executive; Dept. of Transportation; Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs; Dept. of Health and Human Services; Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions; Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice; Office of Innovation; Community Use of Public Facilities; Regional Services Centers
- Council's Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO)
- Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
This alliance provides multiple access points to innovative leaders who are shaping the future of Montgomery County in new and exciting ways (virtual or in-person). It also enables participants to build an experience specifically tailored to their field of study and interests. Applicants selected for the interview stage will be asked to rank the available placements. Participants will work directly with decision makers (elected officials, senior management staff, and more) on ongoing projects, policy analyses and research projects.
A key component of the program is the self-selected independent research (see the reports below). Near the conclusion of the program, Fellows present their policy recommendations to the full Council during a live Council Session.
Fellows will also be able to explore the County through weekly field trips.
Dates of Fellowship: June 5, 2023 - August 11, 2023
Summer Fellows Brochure
Please review the brochure for additional information on the placements, work scope, eligibility criteria, and the application/selection process.
Summer Fellows Application
The Stage 1 application has closed.
The Stage 2 application will be emailed directly to selected applicants who successfully complete and meet certain requirements in the Stage 1 application. Learn more about both stages and the selection process in the brochure.
Contact our Program Coordinator
Fellows Reports
- William Brooks - Examining the Evaluation of Montgomery County’s Arts and Entertainment Districts
- Sarah Brotman - Fair Fares: The Case for Means-Tested Transit in Montgomery County
- Nathalie Kirsch - It’s Not Easy Being Green: Assessing Racial Equity and Social Justice in Montgomery County Green Bank Programs
- Isaac Matthias - Preventing Evictions in Montgomery County
- Elli Nikolopoulos - The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: Effects on County Child Care Providers
- Nell Pearson - Organic Waste Recycling in Montgomery County: Examining Opportunities for Resilient Waste Management
- Gwendolyn Peyton - Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Access Among Limited English Proficient Patients: The Role of Telehealth Services at Montgomery Cares Clinics
- Gabriel Terrell - Equitable Transit-Oriented Development in Montgomery County
- Eva Acevedo - A Framework for a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot in Montgomery
- Iisis Chestnut - A Year Post Pandemic: An Analysis of Montgomery County Vaccine Response for Communities of Color
- Madison Hollon - Closing the Digital Divide: Expanding Broadband and Technology Accessibility in Montgomery County
- Jamie Panarites - Enabling Technology Innovations After COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Coronavirus Pandemic and Recommendations to Support the Deployment of Technology
- David Paul - Care not Custody: Implementing the Homeless Persons Docket
- Jonathan Robison - A Transit to Trails Analysis for Montgomery County
- Rachel Schafer - Behavioral Science in Local Government Improving Programs, Policies & Outreach
- Andrew Wen - Food Security in Montgomery County, MD: Lessons Learned from Covid-19 Response Efforts
- Upneet Atwal - Equitable Education and Engagement of Underrepresented and At-Risk Youth in Montgomery County
- Julia Bauer - Community Use of Public Facilities
- Jonathan Katz - No Center About Us Without Us: Building Senior Center Plus in Montgomery County
- Olivia Raines - A Review of the Proposed County Growth Policy: Exploring Sustainable Solutions to School Overcrowding
- Mira Singhal - An Analysis of Pre-Trial Services and Risk Assessment Instruments Used in Montgomery County
- Colton Keddington - Prioritizing Transportation CIP Projects
- Danni Melton - Addressing the Gender Pay Gap in County Government
- Emilia Calma - Racial Equity in Housing in Montgomery County
- Gabrielle Rogoff - Maintaining MPDU Affordability
- Garrett Riou - Housing Affordability Along the Purple Line
- Katy Koon - An Evaluation of the Assumptions Underlying Environmental Assessments of Montgomery County’s Resource Recovery Facility
- Mykelle Richburg - Racial Impact Statements
- Peter Toth - Small Scale Manufacturing
- Tatiana Padilla - Racial Equity in Economic Development in Montgomery County
- Jenna Bauer - Minimum Wage Economic Indicators
- Samuel Crystal - Alternative Solutions to Workforce Housing
- Anita Joshi - Colocating Pre-K & Senior Care 2018
- Jane Lyons - Stimulating Accessory Apartment Development
- Carlian Odae - Analysis of Community Awareness of Services and Resources in East County
- Kelsey Ruane - Birth Outcomes of Women Who Use Substances During Pregnancy
- Rebecca Weingarten - School-Based health Center Assessment and Site Suitability Analysis 2018