SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 14, 2025—Ainsley Zapata ’26 has been selected as a This prestigious fellowship grants her the opportunity to participate in the Junior Summer Institute (JSI) at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.​ 

The PPIA Fellowship is a highly competitive program dedicated to preparing undergraduate students for advanced degrees and careers in public service. Fellows engage in rigorous coursework, including economics, statistics, policy analysis, and leadership development. The program aims to cultivate the next generation of diverse public policy leaders committed to addressing critical societal issues.​

Zapata, a political science and Spanish double major with a minor in sociology, has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service and ethical governance. As a 2024-25 Government Ethics Fellow at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, she has been actively involved in research and initiatives promoting ethical practices in government. Her dedication to public policy is further exemplified by her internship with Assemblymember Ash Kalra’s office, where she gained hands-on experience in legislative processes and constituent services.​

Participation in the will provide Ainsley with an immersive experience, enhancing her analytical and leadership skills. The program also offers a pathway to graduate studies, with benefits such as application fee waivers and potential financial support from PPIA’s Graduate School Consortium members.​

“I really love the idea of being in the room where policies are actually being created—doing the research, helping to draft legislation, and shaping the direction it takes,” said Zapata. “My ultimate goal is to work in a congressional office as a legislative assistant—or even someday as a chief of staff, whether in Congress or in a White House administration. Right now, I’m focused on gaining the skills to help drive policy in a meaningful way.”

She also expressed deep appreciation for the mentors, faculty, and peers who supported her through the PPIA application process, noting, “I’m incredibly grateful for all the encouragement and guidance I received—this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ celebrates Zapata’s achievement and is confident that her participation in the PPIA Fellowship will further equip her to make significant contributions to the field of public policy.

“The Junior Summer Institute at the Ford School is the next important step in Ainsley’s policymaking journey, gaining even more substantive knowledge and developing even more methodological skills in what is essentially grad school practice,” said Matthew T. Harrigan, assistant professor of political science and associate director of the Office of Student Fellowships. “Ainsley is the kind of person who will squeeze every last drop out of that program, and she will return to our campus in the fall as a senior fully equipped to continue her ascent.”

Zapata is among 83 PPIA fellows selected from 83 different institutions across the country for 2025. She is the fifth Bronco to receive this honor since 2018.

The Public Policy and International Affairs Program is a not-for-profit organization that has been supporting efforts to increase diversity in public service for more than 40 years. The PPIA Fellowship aims to prepare students, primarily from underrepresented backgrounds, for graduate studies and careers in public policy and international affairs.

About SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½
Founded in 1851, SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, see .

Media Contact
Lisa Robinson | SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Media Communications | lrobinson2@scu.edu | 408-551-3601