TEXAS LYCEUM FELLOWSHIP

For Graduate Students Enrolled in Texas Public Administration Graduate Schools

The student(s) selected for The Texas Lyceum Fellowship will be expected to work with a supervising professor as they synthesize research in the most pressing policy areas affecting the State of Texas. Tasks assigned during the fellowship will include analyzing and interpreting statistical tests and trends from original data, culminating in the production of a high-quality written policy brief. Additionally, the student(s) selected for the fellowship will share their research at a Texas Lyceum meeting, a unique opportunity to represent their school and network with Texas Lyceum members and guests.

The Texas Lyceum Fellow will receive $5,000 to cover expenses associated with their research project, and the supervising professor will receive $5,000 for their expense and support.

Applicants must be enrolled in a public administration graduate program and be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

The Texas Lyceum is in partnership with The Bush School at Texas A&M as well as Texas Tech University.

Bush School at Texas A&M applicants, click here for the list of qualifications.

Texas Tech University applicants, click here for the list of qualifications.  

2025 Fellows

John Sherrill

 Dr. John Sherrill is an educational leader and curriculum specialist. His work with schools for the past seventeen years has built the foundation for community involvement, teacher development, and student success. John has served in administrative roles including Special Programs Coordinator, Early College High School principal, High School Principal, and most recently Superintendent of Schools, where he proudly leads the Panhandle Independent School District in Panhandle, TX. John has a passion for student success that began when he was a coach and social studies teacher. As he rose in administration, he saw that his influence could positively affect the outcomes for student success. As High School Principal in Archer City, John’s schools were awarded the Marzano Resources High Reliability Schools national awards for safe schools and effective teaching in every classroom, respectively. These internal and external checkpoints aligned well with his vision of a successful, holistic educational environment. 

Pursuing a Master's in public policy has been on John’s radar for some time because he feels the high-level decisions that influence the day-to-day lives of the 5.5 million students in Texas must have a voice from the communities and constituencies they represent. John desires that the lessons learned in public administration will set the stage for the impact he can make for all learners.

Melissa Ionson

Melissa Ionson is a Graduate Student in the Master of Public Affairs program at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin. With a background in Criminal Justice (B.C.J. ’21) from Canada, Melissa specializes in AI ethics, national security, and social psychology research. She is a Texas Lyceum Policy Fellow and participates in the Clements Center’s Graduate Portfolio Program in Security Studies. As a Graduate Research Assistant at UT, she supports foster youth initiatives and program research and development. Melissa’s research explores policy impacts on societal behavior, focusing on the intersection of technology and security.

Nicole Roy

Nicole is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Public Affairs. She holds dual degrees in Chemistry and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Nicole’s interest in AI was sparked through an interdisciplinary research project with NASA, where she collaborated with astrobiologists to develop methods for detecting signs of life on extraterrestrial terrain. She created a machine-learning algorithm to classify substances as abiotic or biotic using molecular fingerprinting. Originally from southern Louisiana, Nicole loves cooking and savoring Cajun and Creole dishes.

Joe Eduard Rucker

Full-time student at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a Master's in Information Studies and a Master's in Global Policy Studies. Research focus on information and technology policy, national security, internet governance, and artificial intelligence.