Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program
Stored: Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Stennis Center for Public Service |
| Top Organization | Department of State |
| Creation Legislation | John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act of 1988 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program offers mentoring and leadership training to young staff, fostering future legislative leaders through senior mentor pairings and skill development. |
| Program Start | 2000 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program is a Department of State-supported initiative led by the Stennis Center for Public Service that fosters leadership among 15 to 20 young congressional staffers per Congress across the United States, having trained over 200 participants since its launch in 2000 by pairing them with Senior Stennis Fellows for mentorship and career development as of 2025.
This bipartisan, bicameral program, based in Starkville, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C., combines one-on-one mentoring with monthly group discussions over a year, enhancing legislative skills, career advancement, and public service commitment, with alumni like Amaris Benavidez (118th Congress) advancing to senior roles on Capitol Hill.
Goals
- Develop leadership skills and career potential in young congressional staff.[1]
- Foster bipartisan mentorship and networking with Senior Stennis Fellows.
- Strengthen commitment to public service among emerging legislative leaders.
Organization
The Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program is sponsored by the Stennis Center for Public Service, a legislative branch agency under the Department of State’s public diplomacy framework, headquartered at One Research Boulevard, Starkville, Mississippi, with a D.C. office.[2] Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, estimated at $2-3 million annually for FY 2025 within the Stennis budget, managed by a small staff coordinating mentorship and group sessions, with fellows selected by Stennis Center leadership balancing party and chamber representation.
The leader at the Department of State level is the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, currently Lee Satterfield (as of February 19, 2025), with the Stennis Center’s Executive Director, Fred Slabach, overseeing operations.
History
The Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program was established in 2000 under the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act of 1988, signed into law on October 1, 1988, as Public Law 100-458, expanding the Stennis Center’s mission to nurture young congressional talent.[3] It began pairing Senior Stennis Fellows with emerging staff in the 106th Congress, growing to over 200 alumni by 2025, with key developments like virtual discussions added in 2020 and a 2025 focus on legislative technology, sustaining its impact on Capitol Hill leadership.
Funding
Initial funding in 2000 came from Congressional appropriations establishing the Stennis Center, with a $7.5 million trust fund under Public Law 100-458.[4] Funding began in 2000 and continues, with FY 2025 estimates at $2-3 million supporting 15-20 fellows per Congress, staff, and logistics like monthly meetings, with no end date as appropriations sustain biennial cohorts such as the 118th Congress (2023-2025).
Implementation
The program is implemented through a year-long cycle, selecting 15-20 fellows biennially who meet monthly with Senior Stennis Fellow mentors for one-on-one guidance and participate in group discussions on leadership and career topics, facilitated by the Stennis Center.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, engaging fellows in-person and virtually, with 2025 emphasizing skills like legislative analysis and digital governance.
Related
- Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program
- Congress to Campus
- OSHA Construction Safety and Health Program
External links
- https://stennis.gov/emerging-leaders-program/
- https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/ - Stennis Fellows Program
- https://www.usafmc.org/congress-to-campus - Congress to Campus Partner
- wikipedia:John C. Stennis
Social media
References
- ↑ "Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/emerging-leaders-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Stennis Center Organization," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/about, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Emerging Leaders Program History," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/emerging-leaders-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Stennis Center Funding," U.S. Code Title 2, Chapter 22, https://uscode.house.gov, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Emerging Leaders Implementation," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/emerging-leaders-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.