10 Grad Students Across Policy, Business, Security and Law Named Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellows

Ten Georgetown graduate and professional students have been named fellows of the Bryce Harlow Foundation for the second year in a row, making Georgetown the most highly awarded institution for fellows in the 2026-27 academic year.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship recognizes outstanding graduate students who are pursuing careers in advocacy through government relations and lobbying. Fellows are part-time graduate students who work full-time and demonstrate professional achievement, leadership potential and strong ethical standards.

“To me, being a fellow means exemplifying integrity and valuing evidence-based reasoning throughout the advocacy and policy-making processes,” said Tyler Littlejohn (G’29), a fellowship recipient and Master of Public Policy (MPP) candidate at the McCourt School of Public Policy.

Fellows receive a $9,000 tuition award and are paired with the foundation’s board members through a mentoring program that emphasizes professional development.

Georgetown graduate students make up a third of the 2026 fellowship cohort, which includes students from 10 institutions nationwide. Since the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship started in 1985, 119 Georgetown students have served as fellows, some for multiple terms.

‘A Call to Continue’

For master’s student Aubrey Cortez (G’28), receiving the fellowship is validation that she’s on the right path in her public policy career.

“My approach to advocacy, built on trust and negotiated consensus rather than proximity to power, is being recognized alongside a legacy cemented in integrity, and it’s a call to continue upholding those values in everything I do,” she said.

Cortez, an MPP candidate at Georgetown and K-12 policy analyst at the education consultancy Watershed Advisors, is building a career in government relations that centers on education and humanitarian policy. Her MPP coursework at Georgetown is giving her the “analytical grounding” and structure to reinforce the practical lessons she has learned in the workplace, she said.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship provides yet another network of mentors to guide her in creating data-informed arguments that move policy forward and effect change.

“A chance to learn directly from people who’ve practiced advocacy and built successful careers on a foundation of integrity is an experience I value highly as I strive for [a] principled career in government relations,” Cortez said.

Feats of Scheduling

The fellowship’s financial support is an added benefit for busy, working students. 

Managing part-time schoolwork with full-time work is a delicate balance, Cortez and Littlejohn said, but one that’s manageable with mindful time management.

Littlejohn started his program this fall while working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He said he prepared for that balance by being “viciously organized” and making time for self-care.

Cortez started her master’s program in August 2025. Her approach involves treating her schedule as non-negotiable and setting aside dedicated time for schoolwork and studying.

“What’s made it work is that the two reinforce each other: What I’m learning in class shows up directly in how I advise state agencies, and that real-world work sharpens what I bring back to class discussions,” she said.

2026-27 Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellows

• Cecelia Bernard (G’27) — Outreach manager for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Master of Policy Management candidate at the McCourt School of Public Policy
• Aubrey Cortez (G’28) —Education policy analyst at Watershed Advisors and Master of Public Policy candidate at the McCourt School of Public Policy
• Tomas Delgado (MBA’27) (returning fellow from 2025-26) — Manager and public policy coordinator for federal affairs at General Motors and Master of Business Administration candidate at the McDonough School of Business
• Ernesto Fraga (G’29) — Legislative aide for U.S. Rep. and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Master of Arts in Security Studies candidate at the Walsh School of Foreign Service
• Grace Hayden (MBA’29) — Legislative Assistant for for U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski and Master of Business Administration candidate at the McDonough School of Business
• Mara Lefevre (MBA) — Policy advisor at Akin Gump and Master of Business Administration candidate at the McDonough School of Business
• Tyler Littlejohn (G’29) — Communications policy and research coordinator for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Master of Public Policy candidate at the McCourt School of Public Policy
• Phillip McAuley (MBA’27) (returning fellow from 2025-26) — Vice president of government affairs at SoftBank Group International and Master of Business Administration candidate at the McDonough School of Business
• Nicholas Sage (G’27) — Director of speechwriting in the Office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Master of Arts in Security Studies candidate at the Walsh School of Foreign Service
• Owen Voutsinas-Klose (L’27) (returning fellow from 2025-26) — Vice president of policy and government affairs for Viohl & Associates and Juris Doctor candidate at Georgetown Law