Nuala Pell Leadership Program

The Nuala Pell Leadership Program provides leadership development opportunities to a select group of diverse, high-achieving undergraduate students at Salve, exposing them to both the theory and practice of leadership.

Named in honor of the late Nuala Pell, wife of Sen. Claiborne Pell and an avid supporter of public service, the program aims to build leadership skills that can be used in the classroom and beyond.

As part of this eight-month program, students participate in facilitated discussions on topics like public policy, civic engagement, and stakeholder mapping, with opportunities to interact with SRU faculty and local and national political leaders. The fellowship year culminates with an all-expenses-paid visit to Washington, D.C. to meet with prominent civil servants and visit national landmarks. 

Fellows complete the program with a strong understanding of concrete ways to engage in politics, no matter their major. 

I learned leadership comes in so many different forms, shapes, and sizes. No one person has the ultimate answer to how to be a leader, but there are a lot of techniques.

Brian Schmidt '19

Eligibility Requirements

• Will be a junior or senior in the upcoming academic year.
• Has a strong interest in public policy, and wants to deepen their knowledge on the policy process.
• Possesses a desire to enhance their civic engagement in local, state or national politics.
• Is committed to this eight-month program and is available to attend monthly meetings.

Students from any major are welcome and encouraged to apply. 

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Letter of recommendation 
  • from a SRU faculty or staff member (coach, advisor, manager, etc.)
• Answers to the following three questions (200 words max/each)
  • Why are you interested in the Nuala Pell Leadership Program?
  • Many worthwhile experiences include moments of challenge. Share an example of a time when you stayed committed to something even when it was hard. What helped you continue?
  • What is one public policy issue that interests you? Why does it matter to you?

The application deadline is March 2, 2026. Email application materials to Katie Sonder, katie.sonder@salve.edu. Letters of recommendation can be informal emails directly from the recommender to Mrs. Sonder.  

The Nuala Pell Leadership trip to Washington, DC was the opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly inspiring to hear leadership advice and success stories from such influential people. I have a much deeper understanding of what it takes to be an effective leader. 

Devin Smith '18

Every person we met was driven by a goal to make the world a better place, and they all carried that out in different ways. I think this is one of the hallmarks of Claiborne and Nuala Pell; they were leaders with a drive to do good. 

Evie O'Callaghan '19