Committed. Devoted. Connected.
Alumni Stories
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STPF alumni are “crop-tivating” as they talk science at the US Botanic Garden
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Four STPF Alumni Moving Public Policy Forward from the Southeast
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STPF Alumni Impact Series: In the Pacific Northwest, three alumni help build a better world
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In the Rocky Mountain West: STPF Alum Combine Academia and Scipol
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Two STPF Alumni Whose Fellowships Launched Careers in Environmental Stewardship
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STPF alumni tap into scientific roots as experts for the U.S. Botanic Garden
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STPF Alumni, Flourishing Among 502 AAAS Honorary Fellows
+4,152
Scientists, Engineers & Technologists
76%
Continued to Advocate for Specific Policy
88%
Gained Lasting Professional Connections
84%
Translate Scientific Content to Address Complex Problems
Alumni like you are doing amazing things!
Since 1973, the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) mission has been to connect science with policy and foster a network of science and engineering leaders who understand government and policymaking and are prepared to develop and execute solutions to address societal challenges. Get to know alumni who spearhead the future of science policy.
Approximately 4,000 strong, STPF alumni collaborate to advance the role of science in policy as well as the needs of the STPF program. This alumni network is a vital and unique force in science policy, at all levels of government, and around the world. Members of this dedicated and dynamic global alumni community are committed to each other, devoted to STPF's mission, and invested in its future.
Alumni Spotlights
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Teri Allendorf
“My experience as a AAAS STPF [fellow]...laid the foundation for my career over the past twenty years. Engaging with biodiversity policies and programs around the world gave me the opportunity to understand their...impact from the top down and the bottom up.” Leveraging that experience, Teri Allendorf (2000-02 Executive Branch Fellow at USAID) is now the executive director of Community Conservation, a non-profit that supports communities around the world to protect biodiversity.
Image: Birendra Mahato
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Andrew Mara
Recently named head of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory National Security Analysis Department, Andrew Mara (2008-10 Executive Branch Fellow at the Dept. of Defense) leads a 200-person department that informs and delivers the analytic foundation for technology and policy related decisions. "The STPF fellowship was the experience that taught me how to apply academic research skills to real world national security challenges; it was absolutely the launchpad for my career!"
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Rachel Radell-Harris
Last month, Rachel Radell-Harris (2007-08 Legislative Branch Fellow) was sworn in as Mayor of Auburn, CA and brings a fresh perspective to the city’s future. “My year as a AAAS [STPF]/ASCE fellow in Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office was an important stepping stone on my path to running for Auburn City Council…I am honored that I will have the opportunity to use what I learned as a fellow to serve my community as Mayor.”
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Tara Schwetz
New NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives Tara Schwetz (2012-14 NIH fellow) is charged with strategic planning and resource development to better understand NIH portfolios and to launch cross-NIH research initiatives. “I have gained an immense amount from [STPF]—from the amazing experiences and knowledge I’ve gained to the fabulous fellows I’ve recruited and worked with, to the amazing friends I’ve made.” Image: NIH
“I think the potential for alumni fellows to advance the goals of the AAAS is extraordinary. The group represents highly screened Ph.D. level professional who have extensive exposure to policy making in the real world. A failure to utilize this talent pool effectively would be a tremendous waste.”
Alumni Fellow Survey Respondent