Security and Democracy Forum Founders' Fellowship

"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
— Benjamin Franklin

The Founders' Fellowship is the Security and Democracy Forum's flagship professional development program for emerging national security leaders. Named in honor of the democratic ideals that shaped the American experiment, the Fellowship equips early-career professionals with practical skills, substantive knowledge, and a community of principled peers committed to the idea that security must serve democracy.

Purpose

The Founders' Fellowship provides a platform for aspiring leaders to contribute to national security conversations while gaining mentorship, publishing experience, and exposure to the policy process. Fellows will participate in writing workshops, contribute to Forum publications, and engage in professional development events designed to elevate their voice and accelerate their impact.

Who Should Apply

We invite applications from graduate students, junior professionals, veterans, and public service-minded individuals with a demonstrated interest in security, democracy, and public policy. Ideal candidates are thoughtful, values-driven, and ready to grow. The fellowship is meant for working professionals and will attempt to accommodate for scheduling conflicts.

Program Highlights

6-month non-residential fellowship
Invitations to exclusive SDF events
Expedited review of contributed articles or op-eds
Access to professional development resources
Receive mentorship from experienced policy practitioners
Gain exposure across the Forum's networks and platforms

The Founders' Fellowship accepts rolling applications through the month of August with the cohort beginning in September each year. The fellows will meet approximately once a month in person in Washington, DC.

The Founders' Fellowship is your opportunity to shape the future of democratic security. Whether you're exploring a career in national security or deepening your policy expertise, this fellowship offers a launchpad rooted in integrity, accountability, and service.

Download a one-page handout here.

Applications for the Fall Cohort are Closed

Applications for the next cohort of Founders' Fellows will be announced in the coming months! Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date.

To learn more or apply, send a resume to fellowship@securityanddemocracy.org.

Inaugural Founders' Fellows 2025

Adam DuBard

Adam DuBard is a Foreign Policy Fellow with Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE). Originally from South Carolina, he has lived in Germany, Jordan, and Italy for a total of two years, and he has previously been published in Pass Blue, Inkstick, and The Hill. Prior to working for Congresswoman McBride, he worked for the German international nonprofit the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and as a USAID contractor. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he earned an M.A. in conflict management and international business, and also holds a B.A. in political science and German from the University of South Carolina.

Alexis Shanes

Alexis Shanes is an attorney at Murray Osorio PLLC, where she represents asylum seekers in a range of immigration matters. She previously was a litigation fellow at Legal Action Worldwide, where she developed survivor-centered, trauma-informed legal strategies for individuals in fragile, conflict-affected settings. She is licensed to practice in Washington, D.C. Alexis earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. At Georgetown, Alexis conducted human rights fieldwork in Erbil, observed pretrial hearings at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, and completed more than 100 hours of pro bono service. She also served as executive articles editor at the Georgetown Law Journal and president of the Georgetown International Society. In her free time, Alexis enjoys distance running, hiking, and competing in dog agility tournaments.

Dhruvi Thakker

Dhruvi Thakker is a young professional with a Master’s in International Affairs (concentration in International Security and Diplomacy) from the George Washington University. She has worked across think tanks, the public sector, and the United Nations on security and related ad hoc issues. Driven by a commitment to peace and justice, she strives to advance the security and liberty of innocent victims of war by using diplomacy as a tool to advocate for their interests.

Gabriella Oweh

Gabriella Oweh is a graduate student at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, concentrating in International Security. She has experience in legislative research and immigration law, with interests spanning governance, security, and transnational challenges. Oweh is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish. She is committed to advancing democratic security through research, dialogue, and leadership.

Roc Iore

Roc Iore is a graduate student at the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, concentrating in international security. He was a career officer in the Swiss Army for more than ten years and holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Tambria Schroeder

Tambria Schroeder was most recently employed as the Gender Equality Policy Officer for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating U.S. foreign policy goals to promote the safety and meaningful participation of women in civic and political life. Previously, Tambria managed and coordinated multi-million dollar foreign assistance portfolios as a Senior Data Analyst and Program Officer contracted with the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues and Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. She has an MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queen’s University Belfast and bachelor’s degrees in political science, international relations, and women’s studies from SUNY Brockport.

Tayseer Habib

Tayseer Habib is the Communications and Policy Associate at the American Task Force on Lebanon, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening US–Lebanon relations. He previously served as an Advocacy Fellow with the HALO Trust USA and as a 2024–25 Emerging Expert at the Forum on the Arms Trade. Tayseer earned an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a B.A. in International Relations & Global Studies and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Zackariah Crahen

Former Armor office in the US Army, MPP from UChicago Harris School, senior researcher for the Defense Innovation Board and presently an independent contractor focused on policies advocating for individual liberty and realist foreign policy.