Apply to be the 2025–2026 IOC Menino Fellow with the National League of Cities!

Applications for the Initiative on Cities (IOC) 2025–2026 Menino Fellowship with the National League of Cities (NLC) are now open and due May 19, 2025.

The Menino Fellowship provides one Boston University undergraduate student with the opportunity to explore an interest in public service, city-level programs and policies, and municipal leadership on behalf of children, youth, and families through a directed study and semester-long paid internship in the NLC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

During the fall semester, the Menino Fellow enrolls in a directed study exploring an urban topic of their choosing under the supervision of IOC Director, Professor Loretta Lees. The Fellow spends the spring semester in Washington, DC, pursuing a paid internship with the NLC Institute for Youth, Education, and Families at the NLC’s DC Headquarters. The Fellow takes classes in the spring through BU Global Programs’ Washington, D.C. Internship Program while working with the NLC. Washington, D.C., offers plenty of opportunities as a world-class urban research, policy, and cultural hub.

The IOC and NLC jointly created the Menino Fellowship to honor the legacy of former Boston Mayor Tom Menino. Mayor Menino co-founded the IOC and is a lifelong advocate for children, youth, and families.

Students interested in this fellowship are encouraged to contact MetroBridge Program Manager David Gross at davgross@bu.edu to express their interest and/or to discuss any questions.

Watch a Menino Fellowship Info Session and Showcase featuring the research of 2022–2023 Fellow An Pham: