About Us
Our Mission
To empower the next generation of policy leaders by offering comprehensive training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in non-partisan policy research, writing, and thought leadership.
Our Vision
A well-informed public where young people are civically engaged, prepared to lead, and invited to the table.
Our Values
We value curiosity, openness, and a commitment to nonpartisan analysis. Through supportive mentorship, we create space for nuance, growth, and learning by doing.
ACE is a respected Policy Institute with a highly selective Fellowship Program
What began as a small initiative has grown into a respected Policy Institute with a highly selective Fellowship Program designed to provide students with rigorous training, hands-on experience, and direct mentorship in policy research and writing. In December 2020, ACE launched its first Student Fellows program, inviting emerging policy researchers to develop nonpartisan briefs on key issues.
The response was overwhelming, with applications pouring in from students across the country. To meet this demand, ACE expanded beyond immigration policy to include areas such as foreign policy, environmental policy, and criminal justice.
Today, ACE has collaborated with over 700 students from more than 200 universities across more than 40 red, blue and purple states, providing them with the tools to analyze complex issues, communicate effectively, and advance their careers in policy and leadership.
Advancing Careers in Public Policy
ACE is more than just a research fellowship-it’s a launchpad for policy careers. Our mentorship-driven approach ensures that students not only develop expertise in policy research but also gain the professional skills and networks needed to succeed in graduate programs, policy institutes, and beyond. Unlike other Policy Fellowships, ACE provides Student Fellows the opportunity to propose and publish research that aligns with their interests, because we recognize the importance of youth voices in identifying and covering pressing legislation at the local, state, and federal level.
To make policy analysis more accessible, ACE has developed interactive tools like the Political Priorities Worksheet, which helps users identify their core issues. Our Video Editing and Graphic Design teams now create visual policy briefs, infographics, and short-form videos to communicate complex policy information in engaging ways.
ACE Fellows have been accepted into the top universities in their field for graduate study, won Boren, Fulbright, and DAAD awards, and gone on to work at elite think tanks, consulting firms, and international organizations.
Combatting Polarization Through Research
Everyone deserves access to policy information they can understand and trust. Our research is conducted in accordance with three core pillars: nonpartisanship, accessibility, and amplifying young voices
Nonpartisanship: ACE’s research is driven by the primary goal to inform potential voters about federal, state, and local policies that might not otherwise receive unbiased coverage in national news. Our briefs are written to provide readers with objective details about key policies and coverage of multiple perspectives for and against those policies.
Accessibility: Clear information on pressing policies can be hard to find in today’s media landscape. While soundbites lack comprehensive detail, academic articles and congressional reports use jargon that risks alienating the everyday American. Our research intentionally breaks down key phrases and processes in short articles so our readers can stay informed without devoting hours of their time to reading and research.
Amplifying Young Voices: While today’s youth will certainly be impacted by the policies being implemented across the nation today, young people are often sidelined in professional policy spheres. ACE values the insights and passion that exceptional students bring to the field of policy research, and seeks to amplify their work on a national stage.
Looking Ahead
As ACE grows, our vision is clear: to establish our fellowship program as a highly credible, widely recognized, and prestigious initiative respected by graduate programs and policy institutes nationwide. Over the next five years, ACE will continue to expand its training programs, strengthen its mentorship model, and solidify its reputation as the premier nonpartisan training ground for the next generation of policy leaders.
By empowering tomorrow’s leaders and kickstarting careers in public policy, ACE is shaping a future where young professionals don’t just follow the debate—they lead it.