Policy In Practice: Ourso College Fosters Civic Leadership Through Governor鈥檚 Fellows Program
September 09, 2026
How does an idea move from early concept to government action, and ultimately into the daily lives of Louisiana citizens?
The process of shaping and implementing public policy demands rigorous research, cross-agency collaboration and active leadership. Through the , college and university students from across the state can step beyond the classroom and directly engage with that work right at the source. Anchored academically by the 蜜桃APP Department of Public Administration, the competitive summer initiative immerses students in the day-to-day operations of state leadership while earning three hours of academic credit.
Associate Professor
Department of Public Administration
At the Center of the Action
For two months each summer, the fellows operate like full-time executive staff. Working up to 40 hours a week inside an assigned cabinet-level agency in Baton Rouge, students collaborate with agency leaders on existing projects, observe firsthand the governor鈥檚 leadership strategies and learn how state policies are developed. The experience pairs agency immersion with regular field visits to partner facilities and key cultural institutions across the state. The summer culminates in a capstone project developed alongside agency mentors, where fellows research, draft and formally present an actionable policy proposal directly to staff in the Office of the Governor.
Parallel to their agency placements, fellows complete a specialized policy course led by Department of Public Administration faculty. The curriculum serves as an operational roadmap, examining Louisiana鈥檚 political history, organizational dynamics and administrative ethics.
Lasting Impact
Members of the 2026 Fellows cohort visit the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
The Governor鈥檚 Fellows Program is an extensive partnership between Louisiana鈥檚 Office of the Governor, the Lamar Foundation, 蜜桃APP, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Began in 2018 under the administration of Gov. John Bel Edwards, it has continued to grow and evolve during the tenure of Gov. Jeff Landry. For Heidelberg, who has taught the program for seven summers, its staying power lies in its adaptability and strong campus ties.
鈥淥ver the past seven years, we've worked closely with the governor鈥檚 office to continually refine what the fellowship delivers,鈥� Heidelberg said. 鈥淢uch of that vision traces back to [former chief of staff] Mark Cooper, an alumnus of our Master of Public Administration program, who saw the potential for what these fellows could accomplish.鈥�