Education Policy Fellowship Program

Program Overview

The Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) is a professional leadership program for mid- to senior-level leaders in education and related fields sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) in Washington, D.C. The Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University is the Ohio site for this program. EPFP features seminars and guest lectures by prominent speakers each month. The mission of EPFP is to develop strategic, executive leaders in public and private organizations who have the capacity to create and implement sound public policy to improve outcomes for children and young people. Participating in the program provides Fellows with the opportunity to examine leadership and policy issues important to them and to their organizations while engaging with leaders from diverse professional backgrounds in the field of education.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the EPFP program will take place in a blended format, with six in-person experiences, and monthly (and occasionally bi-monthly) synchronous meetings. The program in this format will provide all the same enriching themes, content, and speakers, with expanded accessibility to network with Fellows from across the nation, as well as policymakers and stakeholders, while enabling wider participation in the program for Fellows from across the state of Ohio.

Explore the resources below for more information:

• EPFP Informational Brochure
• EPFP IEL Information
• EPFP Alumni Network
• Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL)

Qualifications

The Center for Educational Leadership invites you to apply if you have:

• A commitment to personal and professional development on behalf of children and youth
• A track record for making things happen-inside and across agencies/organizations
• Substantive work experiences
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent
• A full-time professional position
• The endorsement and financial support of your employing organization or the ability to personally commit financially

How to Apply

To complete your application, please submit the following materials to center_edleadership@csuohio.edu:

• Resume
• Brief 150-250 word Biography that will be shared with CSU staff, facilitators, and other Fellows
• Application and Sponsor Endorsement Form: MS Word Document | PDF  
• Recommendation Letter from your supervisor or employing agency representative

Contact

Adrienne Russ, Program Manager, Center for Educational Leadership, at a.j.russ@csuohio.edu.