James Dunn Fellowship

​​​The application for the 2025-2026 class of James H. Dunn, Jr. Memorial Fellows is now open.

1. Completed application
2. Personal cover letter
3. Résumé
4. Policy essay
5. Copy of applicant's official or unofficial academic transcript
6. Minimum two (2) letters of recommendation: one from an academic source and one from a professional source (please limit yourself to a maximum of 3 letters)

Applications that are submitted without all required materials or after t​he application deadline will not be considered. If you are unable to attach your transcript or letters of recommendation to the application please email them to - Gov.DunnFellowshipApp@Illinois.gov

Communications and Digital Media Team – The Communications and Digital Media Dunn Fellow will work closely with the Communications team, learning about press operations within the Governor’s Office and state agencies. The fellowship provides an opportunity to transform the Governor’s policy priorities into impactful digital and media content. Responsibilities include compiling daily press clips, drafting quotes, video scripts, talking points, statements, and press releases, attending and staffing press conferences, conducting research for speeches, and supporting team projects on an as-needed basis. Digital tasks include drafting and editing social media content, capturing and editing videos to grow an online audience, and tracking digital analytics. Attention to detail and strong writing skills are essential. Previous experience in communications or digital media, such as internships or coursework in political communications, is beneficial but not required. All interested applicants are encouraged to apply.

General Counsel – The Office of the General Counsel provides legal advice to the Governor and staff across various practice areas, including government contracts, litigation, legislation and administrative rules, clemency, ethics and compliance, labor and employment, and Freedom of Information Act requests. The General Counsel Dunn Fellow will work closely with the legal team, supporting tasks such as drafting and editing correspondence, processing FOIA requests, tracking audit and ethics reports, conducting legal research, and assisting on special projects.

Policy – The Policy Dunn Fellow’s primary duties include researching and drafting memos with policy recommendations, supporting the tracking of legislation from state agencies and legislators, writing briefings for policy-related meetings and events, and facilitating discussions between the Policy team and advocacy groups. This role requires strong writing, research, and communication skills, as well as the ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines.

Deputy Governor Grace Hou (Health and Human Services) – The Health and Human Services Dunn Fellow will support Deputy Governor Hou’s team, gaining exposure to a range of projects addressing gun violence prevention, reproductive justice, housing, medical debt erasure, and more. Responsibilities include supporting oversight of the ten HHS state agencies with a combined budget exceeding $58B, managing the portfolio of state board and commission appointments, conducting research, drafting memos, and providing administrative support as needed.

Deputy Governor Martin Torres (Education) – The Education Dunn Fellow will assist Deputy Governor Torres and the Education team by conducting research and drafting memos on policy initiatives spanning early childhood to higher education. Responsibilities include monitoring and reporting on current events and news relevant to education, supporting appointments to state boards and commissions, and facilitating meetings with external stakeholders.

Deputy Governor Bria Scudder (Energy, Environment, Public Safety, and Infrastructure) – The Dunn Fellow for Deputy Governor Scudder will support initiatives related to energy, environment, public safety, and infrastructure. Key responsibilities include researching and briefing the team on relevant policies, working with the agencies overseen by the Deputy Governor, and supporting the portfolio of board and commission appointments. Fellows will gain hands-on experience with executive governance through interactions with the Governor’s Office and agency staff.

Office of Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton – The Dunn Fellow in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor will assist in developing statewide policy recommendations on issues impacting Illinoisans’ quality of life. Responsibilities include supporting relationship-building with key stakeholders, staffing councils on topics such as gender-based issues, rural affairs, rivers, and military bases, and supporting administrative and ethics efforts. The role involves working closely with the Policy Director, General Counsel, Legislative Liaison, and other department leads.

External Affairs – The External Affairs team acts as the Governor’s Office liaison with a variety of external stakeholders, including local governments, labor unions, community organizations, and civic groups. The Dunn Fellow will support daily operations, assist with administrative tasks, aid in the logistical planning and execution of meetings and events, and contribute to drafting internal briefing memos.

Office of Equity – Established by Governor Pritzker, the Office of Equity is focused on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across Illinois state government. The Dunn Fellow will contribute to building a DEIA infrastructure for state agencies, engage with communities, assist in publishing newsletters, develop training and educational materials, conduct research on benchmarks, and track DEIA metrics. Ideal candidates should demonstrate awareness, knowledge, and competencies in DEIA issues, possess strong communication skills, and excel in collaborative, fast-paced environments.

Legislative Affairs – The Legislative Affairs Dunn Fellowship offers exposure to legislative analysis, policy crafting, and engagement with executive agencies. Responsibilities include communicating with legislators and agency liaisons, monitoring legislative sessions and committee hearings, researching and writing memos to summarize bills and their backgrounds, and participating in the Governor's policy development processes.

Governor’s Office of Constituent Affairs (GOCA) – GOCA handles all constituent correspondence and casework from Illinois’ 102 counties and issues statewide proclamations on behalf of the Governor. The GOCA Dunn Fellow will collaborate with team members to review and respond to constituent requests, assist with the Governor’s Tent at state fairs, and support additional projects as they arise.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar (Budget & Economy) – The Dunn Fellow for Deputy Governor Manar will assist with tasks related to the Governor’s budget proposal, business development, workforce, labor, fiscal policy, and natural resources. Primary responsibilities include managing board and commission appointments, scheduling and developing briefing materials for public events, conducting policy research, and providing general administrative support.

Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) – The Dunn Fellow in GOMB will serve as a budget analyst, analyzing budget requests from state agencies, offering recommendations, providing technical assistance on budget levels, and helping negotiate budget issues. The role involves collaborating with legislative and Governor's Office staff, agency representatives, and GOMB senior staff in preparing the annual state budget.

Federal Affairs – The Federal Affairs Dunn Fellow will work with the Governor’s Federal Affairs Team, gaining experience in state-federal interactions. Responsibilities include liaising with the Illinois Congressional Delegation and the White House, leading interagency working groups to secure federal grants, and partnering with other states to advocate for shared interests. Skills required include strong writing, organization, research, and communication abilities, along with the capacity to work efficiently under tight deadlines.