About C&S
At C&S, our work begins with a simple belief: young people with ideas make our country stronger.
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OUR MISSION
Sparking Gen Z to build a strong and thriving America.
Our mission is to cultivate talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens.
At C&S, our work gives the next generation the trust, confidence, and teamwork our country needs to thrive. We meet young people where they are—on campuses, at work, and in their communities—and give them the tools, support, and space to lead real change.
Young Americans want to make a difference, and many are searching for ways to navigate today’s cultural and political divides. C&S works directly with young people, college leaders, employers, and community partners to open clear pathways for discovery, collaboration, and fresh civic solutions.
On Campus
Working with over 100+ colleges, thousands of faculty, and 800,000+ of students.
At Work
Partnering with 25+ companies to develop young leaders.
In Communities
Giving 1,000+ young leaders pathways to shape their communities.
Since 1945
C&S has supported nearly 1M scholars, faculty, & students.
OVER THE YEARS
The History of C&S
1945
Our Roots: The Original Fellowships
C&S traces its roots to the Woodrow Wilson Fellowships founded at Princeton University in 1945. These fellowships welcomed returning World War II veterans into college teaching roles, and were named for Princeton’s former president, who had introduced teaching reforms during his tenure.
1950s
Supporting 20,000 Fellows
In the early 1950s, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation became an independent organization dedicated to doctoral study in the arts and sciences. More than 20,000 Fellows went on to shape new generations of college and university faculty.
1970s - 1980s
Reaching Beyond College
During these decades, the Foundation broadened its work in higher education. It supported new areas of study, opened doors for more people to pursue advanced learning, and strengthened connections between K–12 schools and colleges. It also offered hands-on learning opportunities for thousands of teachers while continuing its long-running fellowship programs for people earning graduate degrees.
2000s
Expanding Our Programs
In the 2000s, the Foundation grew its work with both K–12 schools and colleges. It partnered with universities to prepare more math and science teachers for the schools that needed them. It also helped bring a wider mix of people into teaching and built programs that supported early career paths in public service and global work.
2020
A New Name (new name + racial reckoning)
With this shift, and in light of the nation’s racial reckoning, it became clear that the organization must reconsider its name. While Woodrow Wilson’s accomplishments as a university leader and as President of the United States were historic, his racist policies and beliefs were fundamentally incompatible with the work of the fellowship organization named for him.
The Institute for Citizens & Scholars announced its new name in November 2020.
2026
Refining Our Mission
Today, C&S is focused on helping the next generation become more informed, connected, and collaborative, so they can craft bold civic solutions that make our country stronger. We continue our long tradition of excellence in education while widening our reach to serve young people in all the places they learn and lead.
Meet Our Team
Board of Trustees
2025-2026
Stefanie Sanford, Chair
President, Civic Ventures, Alithi Consulting and Humanitae Philanthropy Advisors
Jeffrey A. Goldstein, Vice Chair
Senior Advisor, Canapi Ventures
Matt Blumberg
Founder and CEO, Acrolinx
Jane Phillips Donaldson
Co-Founder and Partner, Phillips Oppenheim
Peter A. Kirsch
Founder and Managing Partner, Blue Marlin Capital Partners
Glen Lewy
Senior Managing Director, Hudson Ventures
Eric Lindberg
Chief Investment Officer and Trustee, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
Kent McGuire
Former Program Director of Education, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
L. Song Richardson
Chancellor’s Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law
Kim Smith
Founder and CEO, LearnerStudio
Caryl M. Stern
Chief Impact Officer, LionTree LLC
Jay P. Urwitz
President, Urwitz LLC
Rajiv Vinnakota, ex officio
President, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
Mark Walsh
Managing Director, Ruxton Ventures, LLC
Previously Served
Rhian Evans Allvin
Kim Bottomly
Walter W. Buckley, Jr., Chair Emeritus
Ronald (Ron) Cami
George Campbell, Jr.
Brooke Coburn
Ramon C. Cortines
Donald L. Drakeman
Elizabeth A. Duffy
Carl Ferenbach
Juliet Goodfriend
Frederick L.A. Grauer, 1969 Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Chair Emeritus
Jennifer Gruenberg
Roderick Heller, III, 1959 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Gerry House
Thomas C. Hudnut, Chair Emeritus
Erica Jong, 1963 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Robert F. Johnston
Martha J. Kanter
John Katzman
William W. Keating
Senator Robert W. Kasten, Jr.
Shirley Strum Kenny, 1956 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Carl F. Kohrt
Jan Krukowski
Holly Kuzmich
Richard A. Levao
Francisco A. Lorenzo
Luther Tai
Lauren Maddox
Nancy Weiss Malkiel, 1965 Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Chair Emerita
Anita Manwani
Karen E. Osborne
Ambassador Edward J. Perkins
Matthew Pittinsky
Deborah Quazzo
John Rice
Judith A. Rizzo
Sharon P. Robinson
Carlos E. Santiago
Myron S. Scholes
David N. Shane
John L.S. Simpkins
Louis A. Simpson, 1958 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Jeffrey L. Skelton
Catharine R. Stimpson, 1958 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Marvin J. Suomi
George A. Weiss
Paul J. Weissman
Stephen A. Weiswasser
John C. Wilcox, 1964 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Michael R. Winston, 1962 Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Jessie Woolley-Wilson
Working at C&S
Ideas & Impact
The C&S team is made up of educators, designers, researchers, strategists, project managers, and civic leaders. We value constant learning, belonging, gratitude, attentiveness, and a willingness to roll up our sleeves. Here, everyone has a role in shaping a strong and thriving America.
Our headquarters is located at the Carnegie Center in Princeton, NJ—conveniently positioned between Philadelphia and New York City.
Remote Work
C&S is a remote workplace with staff across the country, with periodic in-person gatherings that build trust and teamwork.
Great Benefits
Benefits include a 403(b) match, subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance, and generous paid time off and holidays.
A Culture of &
Curiosity meets collaboration. Our spirit—The Power of &—guides how we show up for each other and the young people we partner with.
Open Positions
Contract: Event Planner
This position provides temporary coverage for our Director of Events, who will be taking leave in early December. In the fall, you will support the Director of Events with late-stage preparation for two events in Washington, D.C. as a means of getting to know the C&S approach/process. For later convenings, you will engage more directly with early-stage preparation for two January events in D.C. and will take the lead on those events when the director goes on leave. We are looking for experienced professionals or firms who specialize in event planning from concept to day-of management.
Program Associate, Campuswide Immersion
Reporting to the Program Director, this individual will be a trusted and essential colleague on the CWI team with strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with both internal and external colleagues. The ideal candidate will possess acute attention to detail, have the ability to plan as well as manage and store materials about CWI’s initiative.This role, like all roles at Citizens & Scholars, is based out of our Princeton, NJ headquarters, and will require occasional visits to the Princeton office. However, most time will be spent working remotely, and the ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is comfortable working in a remote work environment.
Program Officer, Campuswide Immersion
Reporting to the Director of Campuswide Immersion, this individual will be a trusted and essential colleague on the CWI team with strong knowledge of the program and its activities and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with faculty and students. The ideal candidate will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be able to interact successfully across the organization’s team and projects with a wide variety of stakeholders, helping to nurture some of Citizens & Scholars’ most important relationships. This role, like all roles at Citizens & Scholars, is based out of our Princeton, NJ headquarters, and will require occasional visits to the Princeton office. However, most time will be spent working remotely, and the ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is comfortable working in a remote work environment.
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