This selective program empowers students to design and lead high-level public convenings that bring together policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders to address pressing global challenges.
Suggest a 2027–28 Symposium Topic
We’re seeking ideas for the spring 2028 Global Affairs Leadership Symposium. What global affairs topic or question do you think we should explore next?
2027–28 Topic Submission Deadline: November 15, 2026
2026–27 Topic: Global Economics in the Age of Disruption
We have entered an age of profound disruption driven by geopolitical, environmental, and social forces. But beneath all of these forces lie urgent economic questions that will shape where we end up. What incentives can push governments, businesses, and individuals to protect the planet? What are the costs and tradeoffs of war, and who bears the brunt of them? And as war, climate change, and tech revolutions transform where and how people work, what will it take to protect labor rights and build fair migration policy?
Join us for Global Economics in the Age of Disruption, a student-led Buffett Symposium, to explore these questions with leading thinkers from around the globe. Scholars, practitioners, and advocates from a variety of fields and perspectives will examine the economic dimensions of war, climate change, labor, and migration, debating what a more just global economy might look like and require.
2026–27 Symposium Date: April 9, 2027
Fellowship Program Details
Fellows work as a group to design a symposium, including conducting research on prospective speakers, preparing background briefs and materials to inform speaker outreach and agenda setting, and generating ideas for public and student engagement. They are also engaged in leading the event. They may, for instance, serve as moderators, based on interest and need.
Fellows meet regularly and have the opportunity to work independently and collaboratively on projects. They are mentored by the Institute's Faculty Symposium Committee and Institute leadership. Fellows can generally expect to work up to 15 hours per quarter, with a heavier commitment during the quarter that the symposium takes place.
The 2027–27 fellowship began in spring 2026 and will continue through the 2026–2027 academic year. Fellows must be on campus in spring for in-person kickoff sessions, which are generally held every Tuesday in May from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Fellows must also be on campus during spring quarter in the following academic year when the symposium takes place. Activities in fall and winter take place remotely, with one virtual meeting each quarter.
Fellows are paid a stipend of $250 per quarter. There are six to eight fellows selected for this program annually.
Annual Fellowship Application Deadline: April 15
To be eligible for this program, students must meet the following requirements:
- They must be undergraduates currently enrolled on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus
- They must not graduate any earlier than the end of spring quarter the following academic year
- They must be on the Evanston campus for the spring quarter during which they apply and the spring quarter of the following academic year
Students must apply on SOAP by April 15. This process includes interviews with the leadership team.
Applications are assessed using the following criteria, with additional consideration of the cohort dynamics:
- The extent to which this experience deepens or advances the student’s professional and learning objectives
- Previous experience working in collaborative, interdisciplinary teams within or outside of an academic setting
- Demonstrated interest in global affairs and the thematic topic
Annual Fellowship Application Deadline: April 15
Questions?
- Contact buffett-undergrad-programs@northwestern.edu
- Subscribe to our mailing list to receive reminders about program deadlines and information sessions