Frequently Asked Questions About the Fellowship


Thanks for your interest in the Eben Tisdale Fellowship. Below are frequently asked questions to help you understand the purpose of the Fellowship, who is eligible and how to apply. We welcome your interest and participation in our program, which we believe offers outstanding opportunities for students to learn about high tech public policy issues with hands-on experience in Washington, D.C.

Common Questions


Who was Eben Tisdale (1942-1998)? ^ Top
As General Manager of Government Affairs for Hewlett-Packard Company since 1984, Eben Tisdale was one of the most dedicated and effective public policy advocates in the high-tech industry. Eben consistently brought honor, humor, humanity and humility, as well as a high sense of personal integrity, to every encounter. He did not believe in hierarchy; he believed in people and in their ability to be both civil and compassionate. Eben lived these qualities, reinforced them in others, and made a lasting positive impact on the public policy-making process in Washington.

When was the Tisdale Fellowship Established? ^ Top
Friends, family and colleagues created the Eben Tisdale Fellowship, after his struggle with cancer ended in October 1998. Throughout his career, Eben made a special effort to bring bright young people to Washington. Through a long-term commitment as a mentor and friend, he helped many achieve outstanding success in government and in the private sector. This fellowship has been endowed to be a living monument to Eben’s legacy of nurturing young people’s interest in high-technology and public policy.

Is the Tisdale Fellowship limited to specific universities? ^ Top
Tisdale Fellowships are open to students from any college and university. The Fellowship is not affiliated with any particular educational institution. Certain colleges and universities have been briefed by the Advisory Committee about the Fellowship and the opportunities it offers their students, and the schools have agreed to promote that opportunity to qualified students. Decisions about eligibility, the granting of fellowships, and other operational matters, however, are made exclusively by the Fellowship’s Advisory Committee, not the schools.

What is the Eben Tisdale Fellowship? ^ Top
The first of its kind, the Eben Tisdale Fellowship brings eligible students to Washington, D.C. for internships that explore current public policy issues of critical importance to the high technology sector of the economy. The Fellowship has two main elements:

1) Internships: One principal feature of the Fellowship is an eight-week internship in the government relations office of a leading high technology company or association. In the recent past, fellows have interned at such companies as Agilent Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Infotech Strategies. While sponsoring companies will vary from year to year, the Advisory Committee makes every effort to retain high quality internship opportunities. Fellows have an opportunity to observe first hand the development and advocacy of public policy issues in Congress, the Administration and industry associations and to participate in projects of their own, focusing on current critical issues.

2) Issues Seminar: The other main element of the fellowship is a weekly issues seminar organized with the assistance of the sponsoring companies and associations. Expert speakers lead discussions of current public policy issues in Washington, and the methods the high technology industry uses for effective advocacy. In the past, topics have included global electronic commerce, protection of privacy, export controls, digital intellectual property protection, biotechnology issues and educational technology policy. The seminars give Fellows an opportunity to reflect on the appropriate role industry policy advocacy can have on public policy making at the Federal level. Conducted over lunch, the seminars also provide a weekly venue for fellows to meet and compare notes on their experiences.

Fellows also are encouraged, through a variety of events and discussions, to reflect on how growing high technology affects society, culture and the global economy.

The goal of the Fellowship is to create a supportive and collegial environment in which a new class of public policy professionals will be mentored to help ensure that the high-tech industry continues to have highly capable and well-trained individuals in both policy advocacy and senior management positions.

Who is eligible for a Tisdale Fellowship? ^ Top
Students with an interest in public policy and the high-tech industry in their Junior or Senior year, or in a graduate program are welcome to apply. A background in computer science or other high technology fields is helpful, but not required. Additionally, international students are also eligible for the Fellowship.

What is the Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship? ^ Top
The Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship was established in 2007 as an additional grant/internship opportunity within the Tisdale Fellowship program. It was created in memory of the late Thurmond Woodard, Dell’s former Vice President of Global Diversity and Chief Ethics, Privacy and Compliance Officer. Any student may apply for this fellowship (one student will be selected each year for the $5,000 grant). The Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship grant recipient will participate in the same program as those in the Tisdale Fellowship – an eight-week internship and weekly high-tech policy seminars.

Those interested in applying should check the appropriate box in the Tisdale application, and write an additional (300-500 word) essay on their “commitment to the ideals of ethics, diversity, inclusion, and collaboration in the public policy arena.” Each year the Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship recipient will be chosen by the Tisdale Fellowship selection committee which will include a rotating member from one of its three partners:

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS).

For those who apply for this specific Fellowship but are not the selected recipient, they will be considered in the general pool of applicants for the Tisdale Fellowship.

Also part of the Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship, TFAS will add a lecture on diversity and ethics to the Tisdale Fellows’ speaker series and reach out to historically black colleges and universities and Hispanic and Asian Pacific-serving institutions during the program’s recruitment process.

Who is eligible for the Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship? ^ Top
In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Tisdale Fellowship, students applying for the Dell Thurmond Woodard Fellowship should also have an interest/background in issues regarding diversity and ethics.

Can international students apply for the Fellowship? ^ Top
Yes, of course.

What are the criteria for selection? ^ Top
The Advisory Committee will evaluate your application, official transcripts, evaluation forms, and an essay. The Committee will then recommend the most outstanding applicants to the program. The Committee will be considering your completed application materials, as well as looking for:

How is the Tisdale Fellowship administered? ^ Top
An Advisory Committee of family, friends, and professionals who worked with Eben, many of whom contributed to the fellowship's endowment, oversee the fellowship, its continued funding, the selection process, and its activities. The Advisory Committee, which generally meets in Washington, D.C., is not affiliated with any particular educational institution.

What is the Fellowship stipend? ^ Top
The Fellowship fund is administered by The Fund for American Studies in Washington, and is not affiliated with any particular educational institution. The Fellowship fund, with the assistance of companies and associations sponsoring internships, offers a combined stipend of $5000 to each participating Tisdale Fellow, to cover living expenses in Washington, D.C. The fellowship does not charge any fees to Tisdale Fellows.

Am I eligible for academic credit? ^ Top
Contact your university coordinator to determine whether you are eligible for credit for your fellowship participation. The Fellowship Advisory Council will be happy to consider requests to work with participating universities to establish appropriate credit for the internship and seminar.

What is the calendar for the 2008 Fellowship? ^ Top
June 16– August 8, 2008

Does the Fellowship arrange for housing? ^ Top
The Fellowship is not responsible for arranging housing for the summer. There are a number of alternative housing opportunities to visiting fellows. Additionally, the Advisory Committee will be happy to help fellows work with those programs. A list of programs is found on our website under housing.

Application Checklist ^ Top
Included in the application packet, you will find:
Download Application ^ Top
For an application, click here.