Learning by leading

Fourteen years after its founding, Salve's Nuala Pell Leadership Program has entered a new era – one shaped by deeper experiential learning, stronger ties to Salve's mercy mission and a sharpened focus on preparing students to become ethical, service-driven leaders in whatever fields they pursue.

Honoring the legacy of Nuala Pell – philanthropist, advocate for public service and wife of the late Sen. Claiborne Pell – the program remains rooted in the belief that leadership is not about power, but purpose. Today, as it evolves under the guidance of the Pell Center's associate director, Katie Sonder, the program's impact is clearer than ever.

"We think of students as actively engaged citizens, even as undergrads," Sonder said. "You can make progress on issues you're passionate about now, and we're going to give you the tools to help you through that process and enhance your toolbox of making change."

Open to rising juniors and seniors of all majors, the cohort is intentionally small, usually 10-12 fellows, and intentionally diverse. "We have a wide representation of backgrounds, majors and lived experiences that allows us to understand public policy from multiple angles," Sonder explained.

Finance majors sit beside cultural preservation students; political scientists collaborate with education majors. This range makes policy discussions more dynamic and policy solutions more creative.

But a comprehensive alumni survey in 2023 prompted the program's biggest redesign to date. What Sonder discovered surprised her. "I expected the draw to be the D.C. trip," she admitted. "But students overwhelmingly wanted experiential learning opportunities where they could leave with something concrete and develop specific skills to become engaged citizens."

From that feedback, Sonder and her colleagues built a yearlong curriculum anchored in a capstone project: each student authors a full policy brief from scratch, learning the tools of policymaking step by step. Monthly sessions led by expert faculty and guest lectures from notable changemakers like policy analyst and author Susan Eisenhower or former White House chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, provide up-close access to the people who shape public life in classrooms, statehouses and the White House itself.

The result is a rare undergraduate opportunity: a deeply scaffolded journey through the policymaking process, culminating in a portfolio-ready deliverable and a trip to Washington, D.C., a centerpiece of the original program that still shapes the student experience. While there, fellows meet with Rhode Island's congressional delegation, ambassadors, nonprofit leaders and policy experts. For many, it's transformative.

Levi Mitchell '24, now a junior economist with Environment and Climate Change Canada and graduate student at the University of Ottawa, finds that the program's trip to Washington, D.C., still resonates with him.

"It let us engage directly in discussions with decision-makers on public policy topics, including the environment, human rights and international concerns," he shared. "I still remember the insightful conversations, and the experiences strengthened my confidence in holding conversations with decision-makers and asking questions."

For one of this year's fellows Marsara Dunbar '27, a political science major and treasurer of Salve's Black Student Union, the program's restructured curriculum has provided both clarity and direction.

"I applied because of its emphasis on leadership development with a public service focus," said Dunbar. "Having a space on campus where I can gain skills that are applicable to my current leadership roles and my future endeavors is very important to me. I have a great interest in civic engagement and policy, and the program does a great job of intersecting the two through our monthly meetings."

What distinguishes the Nuala Pell Leadership Program from similar initiatives nationally, Sonder emphasized, is its grounding in Salve's mercy mission.

"When we talk about public policy and politics, we begin from an empathetic approach to leadership," said Sonder. "If you see something unfair or unjust, you have the power and ability to make progress against it."

As the program continues to evolve, its goal remains steady: empower students to enter the world not just well-informed, but capable of strengthening communities, democracies and shared futures.

"We want students to look back and say: I know what I learned. Why it mattered. And I can take these experiences into my future opportunities," Sonder said.

2025-26 program fellows

Through workshops, policy writing, discussions with national leaders and hands-on learning experiences, this year's cohort exemplified the program's commitment to thoughtful leadership rooted in action and empathy. 

The 2025-26 fellows represent a dynamic group of student leaders who spent the year engaging deeply with public policy, civic dialogue and service-driven leadership:

• Jennie Battcher '26, political science major
• Simar Jagpal '26, finance major
• Brian Koluch '27, global studies and political science double major
• Nate LeGros '27, political science major
• Olivia Liegel '27, communications major
• Lauren Martin '27, political science major
• Gee Smith-Rasmussen '26, sociology and anthropology and psychology double major
• Ella Suchecki '27, American history major
• Selby Warren '27, business administration major