Harvard Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellowship 2026–2027: Paid Opportunity for Graduate Students ·Sector Leadership Fellowship 2026–2027: Paid Opportunity for Graduate Students

The programme is designed for Harvard University graduate students interested in educational equity, intergenerational poverty, economic mobility, racial justice and place-based systems change. Selected Fellows will work closely with nationally recognised cross-sector leaders participating in EdRedesign’s By All Means Senior Fellowship Program.

Four students will be appointed for the 2026–2027 academic year. Each Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellow will serve as the primary Harvard-based liaison and strategic partner for one Senior Fellow, helping them navigate the University, develop relationships, advance projects and participate in activities across the Harvard ecosystem.

The fellowship is classified in the official posting as a paid internship. Fellows will work approximately 6–10 hours per week and will be compensated at the standard Harvard graduate student rate. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of 31 August 2026.

About the EdRedesign Lab

The EdRedesign Lab, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, works to change the systems, policies and practices that shape educational and life outcomes for children and young people.

Its work is guided by the belief that race, income and geographic location should not determine whether a child succeeds in school or later life. EdRedesign focuses especially on communities affected by racism, poverty and long-term disinvestment.

The Lab was founded in 2014 by Paul Reville, a former Massachusetts Secretary of Education and Professor of Practice of Educational Policy and Administration at Harvard.

EdRedesign supports the development of cradle-to-career, place-based partnerships that seek to improve:

• Educational attainment
• Social and emotional well-being
• Physical health and development
• Civic participation
• Economic mobility
• Access to personalised opportunities and support

Rather than concentrating only on what happens inside classrooms, EdRedesign examines the broader systems surrounding children, young people and families. These systems may include local government, schools, community organisations, health services, youth programmes, social-service providers, philanthropy and employers.

Why Cross-Sector and Place-Based Work Matters

EdRedesign’s approach reflects the reality that many factors affecting children’s lives exist outside school.

Children from kindergarten through Grade 12 spend only a portion of their waking hours in school. Their development and future opportunities are also shaped by housing, healthcare, transportation, family income, safety, community relationships, public services and access to enrichment opportunities.

The Lab therefore supports strategies that move beyond isolated educational reforms.

Its model combines two closely connected approaches:

1. Place-based, cross-sector collaboration that brings institutions and community actors together to remove structural barriers and create pathways to opportunity.
2. Relationship-based personalised support, described by EdRedesign as Success Planning, which helps individual children and young people access the services, relationships and opportunities they need.

EdRedesign’s wider work involves talent development, practical research and movement building intended to influence policies, systems, public narratives and professional practice.

About the Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellowship

The fellowship honours Wendy D. Puriefoy, a nationally recognised leader whose work focused on school reform, civil society and community-based approaches to public education.

Puriefoy served for many years as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Network, which was described as the largest national network of community-based school reform organisations in the United States. Her collaboration also played an important role in the establishment of EdRedesign.

The fellowship positions are supported through a partnership involving the Ford Foundation, Puriefoy’s family and other supporters.

The programme was created to support Harvard graduate students committed to cradle-to-career, cross-sector work that improves outcomes for young people and families.

Relationship With the By All Means Senior Fellowship Program

Each Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellow will be matched with one participant in EdRedesign’s By All Means Senior Fellowship Program.

The Senior Fellows are experienced leaders who have held senior positions in fields such as:

• Local government
• Public-school systems
• Federal government
• Community-based organisations
• Education networks
• Place-based partnership organisations
• National youth-serving organisations

The listed 2026–2027 Senior Fellows are:

• Dreama Gentry, President and CEO of Partners for Rural Impact
• Elson Nash, Senior Fellow at Blue Meridian Partners and Strategic Partnerships Lead Consultant at the Education Commission of the States
• Christian Rhodes, Deputy Executive Director of the William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone
• Rey Saldaña, President and CEO of Communities In Schools National Office
• Sondra Samuels, President and CEO of Northside Achievement Zone

Each student Fellow will support one Senior Fellow throughout the academic year.

What Selected Fellows Will Gain

The fellowship offers students direct exposure to senior practitioners working on complex educational, social and economic challenges.

Participants will have opportunities to:

• Learn from nationally recognised cross-sector leaders
• Understand cradle-to-career place-based strategies
• Gain experience connecting research, policy and practice
• Build relationships across Harvard
• Support projects related to upward mobility and racial justice
• Strengthen programme-management and stakeholder-engagement skills
• Participate in senior-level meetings and events
• Contribute to projects affecting children, young people and families
• Develop practical experience in research, writing and facilitation

The fellowship is not structured as a passive observation opportunity. Students will be expected to take substantial responsibility for coordination, research, relationship-building and project delivery.

Main Responsibilities

Serve as the Primary Harvard Liaison

Each student Fellow will serve as the principal liaison between their matched Senior Fellow and the wider Harvard community.

This will involve identifying faculty members, practitioners, institutes, centres and other University resources that align with the Senior Fellow’s interests and priorities.

The student will help develop an engagement plan that allows the Senior Fellow to make productive use of Harvard’s academic and professional networks.

Responsibilities may include:

• Researching relevant faculty and programmes
• Identifying potential collaborators
• Coordinating introductions
• Scheduling meetings
• Managing logistics
• Maintaining communication
• Supporting ongoing relationships
• Aligning proposed engagements with the Senior Fellow’s goals

The Fellow must work closely with EdRedesign staff to ensure that outreach across the University is coordinated and strategically useful.

Coordinate Meetings and Engagements

Selected Fellows will arrange connections between Senior Fellows and relevant people or organisations within Harvard.

This may involve:

• Preparing background information
• Coordinating schedules
• Confirming attendance
• Organising meeting logistics
• Tracking follow-up actions
• Supporting continued engagement
• Maintaining organised records

Student Fellows will also help support monthly virtual office hours offered by Senior Fellows for EdRedesign partners, community members and graduate students.

Provide Strategic and Administrative Support

The fellowship requires students to offer both intellectual and operational support.

After meetings or discussions, Fellows may be asked to turn broad ideas into practical outputs such as:

• Project concepts
• Goals
• Recommendations
• Action plans
• Research questions
• Deliverables
• Timelines
• Follow-up steps

Fellows may also conduct, draft or review research relevant to the Senior Fellow’s projects.

They will help manage project schedules and ensure coordination with the Senior Fellow’s chief of staff, executive assistant or other professional support personnel.

Regular check-ins with the matched Senior Fellow will be required throughout the academic year.

Support On-Campus Visits

Each Fellow will act as the primary on-campus partner for their matched Senior Fellow during planned Harvard visits in the autumn and spring semesters.

The student Fellow will help create an individualised agenda and prepare the Senior Fellow for meetings, cohort activities, presentations and other engagements.

Duties may include:

• Developing visit schedules
• Preparing briefing materials
• Creating presentations and visual aids
• Supporting facilitation
• Coordinating public-speaking engagements
• Organising class visits
• Preparing meeting spaces
• Accompanying the Senior Fellow on campus
• Providing logistical guidance

Two on-campus visits are expected, although the specific dates had not been confirmed in the posting.

Contribute to Programme Design and Facilitation

Student Fellows will provide thought partnership to the wider programme and may help design sessions for the full cohort.

This may include:

• Curating content
• Preparing programme materials
• Recommending speakers or activities
• Designing learning sessions
• Supporting facilitation
• Contributing ideas for on-campus visits
• Helping improve the fellowship experience

Participants will take part in both virtual and in-person activities with the cohort of Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellows.

Biweekly cohort meetings are required.

Promote Student-Facing Opportunities

Selected Fellows will help share EdRedesign events and opportunities with Harvard students.

They may use:

• Student organisations
• Academic networks
• Mailing lists
• Informal peer networks
• University communication channels

Fellows may also contribute to other special projects undertaken by EdRedesign during the year.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must currently be enrolled as graduate students at Harvard University.

Eligible degree categories include:

• Master’s students
• PhD students
• Doctor of Education Leadership students

Applicants should demonstrate strong project-management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple tasks proactively.

Successful candidates should be capable of:

• Translating conversations into practical goals
• Producing recommendations and next steps
• Managing projects and timelines
• Working independently between meetings
• Adapting when priorities change
• Navigating ambiguity
• Supporting virtual and in-person events
• Communicating professionally
• Maintaining confidentiality

The role requires someone who can operate with limited supervision while remaining closely aligned with EdRedesign and the matched Senior Fellow.

Knowledge of Harvard

Applicants should understand the Harvard ecosystem, including its:

• Faculty
• Institutes
• Research centres
• Academic programmes
• Events
• Professional networks

Students who do not already possess extensive knowledge of the University should demonstrate the ability to identify and understand relevant resources independently.

This requirement is important because Fellows will be responsible for connecting Senior Fellows with people, programmes and opportunities across Harvard.

Research and Analytical Skills

Strong research and analytical abilities are required.

Applicants should be able to collect, interpret and synthesise qualitative and quantitative information from multiple sources.

Possible assignments may involve:

• Reviewing academic research
• Preparing background briefs
• Analysing policy documents
• Summarising meetings
• Identifying relevant programmes
• Drafting research materials
• Translating findings into recommendations

Previous research experience in education, child development, economics, government or a related field would strengthen an application.

Commitment to Children, Youth and Families

Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in supporting children, young people and families through cradle-to-career, place-based and cross-sector work.

They must also be able to appreciate local contexts and cultures while building trusting relationships with national leaders and community partners.

Experience in the following areas is considered advantageous:

• Collective-impact initiatives
• Cradle-to-career partnerships
• Local government
• Public policy
• School leadership
• Education systems
• Place-based collaboration
• Community development
• Child and youth development

Relevant professional experience is useful, but lived experience connected to EdRedesign’s mission may also be considered valuable.

Number of Positions

EdRedesign plans to appoint:

Four Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellows

The four Fellows will form a student cohort and participate in shared learning and programme activities throughout the academic year.

Fellowship Period and Weekly Schedule

The programme covers the 2026–2027 academic year, including:

• Fall 2026
• Spring 2027

The required schedule is described as flexible.

Fellows are expected to work approximately:

6–10 hours per week

Although the weekly schedule is flexible, participants must remain available for scheduled virtual and in-person meetings, cohort sessions, campus visits and events.

Continued participation may be influenced by performance and programme needs.

Compensation

This is a paid position.

Selected students will receive compensation at the standard Harvard graduate student rate.

Funding may be provided through:

• Federal or institutional work-study arrangements, where eligible
• Non-work-study funding

The posting does not state a specific hourly rate. Applicants should consult the official application information or EdRedesign for current compensation details.

Work-Authorisation Requirement

Applicants should be legally eligible to work in the United States.

International students who are uncertain about their eligibility are advised to contact the Harvard International Office.

Being an international student does not automatically make an applicant ineligible, but the student must satisfy applicable U.S. and Harvard employment requirements.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the official application form and follow the instructions for submitting:

1. A résumé
2. A cover letter

The résumé should clearly show relevant experience in areas such as:

• Project management
• Research
• Education
• Public policy
• Community engagement
• Programme coordination
• Student leadership
• Event organisation
• Cross-sector collaboration

The cover letter should explain:

• Why the applicant is interested in EdRedesign
• Their commitment to educational equity
• Their interest in upward mobility and place-based work
• Their understanding of cross-sector collaboration
• Relevant research or professional experience
• Their knowledge of the Harvard ecosystem
• Their ability to support a senior leader
• How their skills and experiences align with the fellowship

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Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The final deadline is:

31 August 2026

Because applications may be assessed before the final date, interested students should apply as early as possible.

Conclusion

The Wendy D. Puriefoy Cross-Sector Leadership Fellowship 2026–2027 offers Harvard graduate students an opportunity to gain meaningful experience at the intersection of research, policy, community leadership and educational systems change.

Selected Fellows will work directly with prominent leaders from place-based partnerships, education organisations and community-focused institutions. They will serve as strategic partners, project coordinators, researchers, campus guides and connectors across Harvard.

The programme is particularly relevant to students committed to educational equity, racial justice, economic mobility and improving outcomes for children and families.

Four Fellows will be appointed for the academic year, working approximately 6–10 hours each week and receiving compensation at the standard Harvard graduate student rate.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted no later than 31 August 2026.

For further information and application requirements, CLICK HERE.

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