Our Mission

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship was established in 1987 to recruit and train the next generation of policy and advocacy leaders on a range of international peace and security issues.

The fellowship ensures a pipeline of the brightest, most dedicated, and diverse next-generation experts into leading think tanks and advocacy groups in order to inspire creative new approaches to the pervasive challenges to peace and security. Its goal is to bridge the gap between academia and the professional world by providing an entree for mission-driven grads eager to learn about and contribute to public-interest organizations.

The fellowship was established to honor longtime nuclear arms control activist Dr. Herbert (Pete) Scoville, Jr., a Ph.D. in physical chemistry and dedicated public servant, who encouraged young people to become involved in arms control and national security.

Twice yearly, the fellowship’s Board of Directors selects a small group of outstanding individuals to spend six to nine months in Washington, DC. Scoville Fellows work full time at the participating organization of their choice. In the program’s first thirty-three years, one hundred and ninety fellowships have been awarded.

The Scoville Fellowship has a proven track record of attracting talented people with strong academic and advocacy backgrounds in international peace and security issues. Scoville Fellows contribute to their host institutions through research, writing, and multi-media advocacy activities. They create conferences and policy briefings, advocacy platforms, and coalitions. The majority of former Scoville Fellows continue to work with public-interest organizations or in government capacities after concluding their fellowships, and many go on to earn graduate degrees in related fields.

Scoville Fellows, through independent projects and active participation within their chosen organization and the larger peace and security community, have rich opportunities to gain experience and leadership skills and to help translate their social concerns into direct action. In addition, the fellowship arranges meetings for the fellows with policy experts and networking events with Scoville alumni. Each fellow selects a board member and a former fellow to serve as mentors, smoothing the transition to Washington, DC.

The goals of the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship program are to:

• Identify promising young scholars and public advocates to provide leadership on peace and security issues;
• Provide a unique professional development experience to outstanding individuals who might otherwise not have the opportunity to work on peace and security issues in Washington, DC;
• Connect existing and future leaders in the peace and security field or related areas of public service;
• Inspire new ideas and creative thinking in the critically important work of peace and security issues; and
• Honor the legacy of Herbert Scoville, Jr. by encouraging young people to contribute to this field.