Core Activities

The Senior Fellows Program creates space for meaningful cross-sector conversations that support evidence-informed decision-making in education. Key components include:

• Biannual Convenings: Two in-person gatherings each year, scheduled to accommodate the legislative calendar and participants’ professional obligations.
• Diverse Cohort: A bipartisan group of legislators, researchers, philanthropic leaders, and educators, each contributing unique insights to the discussion.
• Timely Topics: Convenings focus on pressing challenges in education—particularly those affecting equity and access for diverse learners.
• Sustained Engagement: Fellows participate in deep, ongoing dialogue that prioritizes reflection, collaborative problem-solving, and actionable ideas.

The Senior Fellows Program serves as a collaborative forum where policy, research, and practice come together, encouraging open dialogue, diverse perspectives, and thoughtful exploration of how emerging research can inform California’s education systems. The program fosters lasting connections and supports the development of more inclusive, evidence-informed policies for all learners.

Structure

We envision the UC|CSU Collaborative Senior Fellows Program emulating a laboratory in which policymakers can create a feedback and networking loop as they study various educational challenges and solutions with researchers, teachers, and philanthropists toward improved educational outcomes for all types of learners. While insights from guest experts are valuable, even more significant will be the dialogue, learning, and relationship-building among this distinguished group of visionaries.

​If you would like to be considered for participation in this groundbreaking initiative, please contact Megan Valladao Thomas at valladao@gseis.ucla.edu.