Information for Alumni

How it Works

            Passionate alumni are the heart and soul of this program.  The Elrod Fellowship relies on alumni support and leadership and is driven by alumni interests and creativity.  The alumni-based format facilitates and encourages strong bonds between alums, current students and recent graduates.  Alums use their expertise as active citizens and professionals to recruit agencies, mentor students, develop group seminars and oversee the program.  A detailed description of alumni positions are listed in this packet.  The Program Manager supports Alumni efforts by handling most of the paperwork and administrative duties involved in running the organization as well as assisting with the development of an Educational Series.

Where?

The Elrod Fellowship is based in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland and New York City, NY.

Why Participate?

Five to eight students will be placed as Elrod Fellows for the first year in up to three cities.  This is one to three students in each city.  Eventually, the program will grow to place an average of twenty-five to thirty students each year in six to eight regions.  This is four to ten students in each region.  Students participating in similar experiences in the past have described the experience as “life-changing.” Additionally, the fellowships will be challenging placements offering fellows more responsibility and opportunity for leadership than most other jobs open to recent graduates.  To be chosen as an Elrod Fellowship will be a badge of honor for Washington and Lee students.  It will help graduates gain respect for and interest in public service work. 

In addition, the Elrod Fellowship offers an innovative new way for alumni to contribute.  Within five years, fifty-five to seventy-five alumni each year will have this opportunity to be both more active in the Washington and Lee Community and in public service in their home communities.   

Finally, both the student and alumni involvement in this program will help to improve Washington and Lee’s reputation as a school interested in and dedicated to public service.   Through this learning and work opportunity and with the help of alumni, the W&L community will cultivate in participants “the responsibility to serve society through the productive use of talent and training” and a capacity “for self sacrifice on behalf of their fellow citizens.” (W&L mission statement)