Fellows work on projects at the intersection of policy and ethics with Dr. John Pelissero, Ph.D, director of government ethics at the Ethics Center.
The Government Ethics Fellowship is open to students who are in good academic standing, are juniors or seniors during the fellowship year, and are majoring in the social sciences, humanities, or business.
The goal for the fellowship is to provide students with an academic research experience and an applied government experience that helps to develop one’s ethical awareness and ethical decision-making abilities. Each fellow develops a proposal to conduct research on a practical ethics issue in government, is engaged with Markkula Center projects at the intersection of public policy and government/political ethics, and is placed in a government office for an internship experience for part of the year.
The Government Ethics Fellowship is a unique opportunity for Santa Clara undergraduates to focus on a research project with ethical implications for the government, work with and learn from other fellows in bi-weekly seminars, and have an engaged learning experience as an intern in a government office explains Director, Government Ethics, John Pelissero.
"The 2024-25 fellows are working on important projects related to democracy, from understanding the ethical issues that may occur due to voter suppression efforts in some states, to examining how alternative voting systems impact voting rights and fairness in various states, to understanding the ethical outcomes of the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. In each project, the students are expanding their knowledge through research that includes interviews of decision makers and public officials who are at the crux of government and ethics," says Pelissero.
Plans for the 2024-25 academic year include options for research and curriculum projects on civics education and engagement, ethical culture in governments, and ethical approaches to voting and elections in the United States, as well as fellows’ individual ethics research projects.
This year, three Government Ethics Fellows, in addition to their research project, spend one quarter interning for a local government office of their choosing. Currently, Ainsley Zapata works with Assemblymember Ash Kalra’s office; Christian Barnard interns at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Office; and Bailey Black will intern during spring quarter with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Johana Engstrom, program manager of fellowships and internships adds, "These internships provide invaluable real-world experience, allowing the fellows to apply their research and academic knowledge while gaining a deeper understanding of the inner workings of government and public service."
If selected, the fellowship requires approximately 4 to 5 hours per week working on the fellowship during academic year. Each fellow will be scheduled to meet with the director on a bi-weekly basis, participate with members of the Government Ethics Council, and will present a summary of their research at the Center's annual student fellowship and internship showcase in May.
Applications typically open during the late winter or early spring quarter, and selections are made each spring.
The Government Ethics Fellowship is supported by a gift from Louise Aiello '73.
During Civic Learning Week, 2024-25 Government Ethics Fellows Christian Barnard, Bailey Black, and Ainsley Zapata, discuss the importance of civic education and engagement and how their studies and fellowship placements are impacted by their civic learning experiences.
Hear from 2022-23 Government Ethics Fellow Grace Davis about how the fellowship enhanced her learning experience and career preparation at Santa Clara University.
2024-25 Government Ethics Fellows
Bailey Black '25
Bailey Black is a senior at Santa Clara University majoring in political science and economics. Originally from Kirkland, WA, he is passionate about public policy, justice, and the law, with a particular interest in constitutional law and democracy. He plans to conduct research exploring the role of ethics in the decision-making and structure of the United States Supreme Court, as well as analyze the concept of judicial review and its compatibility — or incompatibility — with American democracy. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, watching Formula One, and rooting for his hometown Mariners and Seahawks.
Christian Barnard '26
I am Christian Barnard, a junior double majoring in Political Science and Theater from Denver, Colorado. I am excited to be a Government Ethics fellow and to work with the Markkula Center to deepen my understanding of how ethics could be better applied to our institutions. With a fervent interest in reducing polarization and political animosity, a goal which I will forever chase, I anticipate my research to explore the moral quandaries of criminal justice rehabilitation, voters' rights / voter suppression, and/or our current electoral procedures.
My name is Ainsley Zapata and I am a rising Junior majoring in Political Science and Spanish with a minor in sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences. I gained an interest and love for the world of politics and government in high school, which is what drove me to choose my major and apply for this fellowship opportunity. I hope to go on to get my Masters in Public Policy after I complete my undergraduate degree, and then put it to use working for the government or in the nonprofit sector. In this fellowship I hope to dive into voting rights and the ethical implications of the actions of some state legislatures that have taken away or restricted access to this fundamental right in our democracy. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the legal and political processes at play in this system so that we can develop comprehensive solutions that will create lasting change. Finally, I want to be able to use this research to help people all over the country better understand the signs of voter suppression and what can be done to prevent or mitigate it.