NextGen Civic Leader Corps
Welcome to the UW Seattle NextGen Civic Leader Corps!
The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center’s NextGen Civic Leader Corps serves as a network to empower and equip the next generation of public service leaders through a combination of coursework, experiential learning opportunities, fellowships and Signature Events.
NextGen is part of a growing network of similar programs across the country powered by the Volcker Alliance weekly newsletter AND join the NextGen Civic Leader Corps Group in CCUW.
Join Our Community
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=W9229i_wGkSZoBYqxQYL0h6r90jEUd5ApgrX4MfPXVpURU8yWjZNQ0pXSk1QOEZBTDhaNUM0UFVDUCQlQCN0PWcu
What is NextGen?
https://youtu.be/xRj4yXOu0jg
Our Community and Events
Throughout the academic year, the NextGen community engages in an array of activities that highlight public service: from engaging with leaders in the field, skill building workshops, community service and networking events.
The Curriculum
All NextGen Civic Leader Corps members are highly encouraged to>take a minimum of one course in the Public Policy or Leadership minor. This coursework provides an academic anchor for your public service career exploration, builds your understanding of theoretical frameworks, and can prepare you to talk about your community-engagement and leadership experiences in job interviews and/or graduate school applications.
- LEAD 100: Learning Leadership (Autumn or Winter)
- PUBPOL 201: Introduction to Public Policy & Governance (Autumn or Winter)
- PUBPOL 302: Public Service Leadership (Spring and Summer)
- LEAD 490 (Leadership Certificate)
- Many courses outside the PUBPOL or LEAD course headings will also count!
- Electives that count for either minor may also count toward this requirement. This includes many courses outside the PUBPOL or LEAD course headings.
NextGen participants are strongly encouraged to consider a minor in Leadership or Public Policy.
Grow Your Leadership Experience
In addition to participating in NextGen community events and connected coursework, we also provide support with searching for or reflecting on leadership opportunities. Leadership experience could be an internship, ongoing volunteering commitment, role in a public service organization or participation in a mentorship program. There are also opportunities to serve in a NextGen student leader position!
What do NextGen Members Gain?
NextGen Civic Leader Badge
The Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center, in partnership with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, is excited to announce the launch of theCivic Health Scorecard and complete a Centerpiece Activity. Centerpiece Activities are significant commitments (100 or more hours) to one issue or organization; Centerpiece Activities also involve reflection, and students must make a connection between the activity and their experience as a UW student.
*The NextGen Civic Leader Badge will be available to students at the Bothell and Tacoma campuses in future academic years. The current pilot program (Winter and Spring Quarters 2026) is limited to Seattle campus students.
Please email Kathryn at purschk@uw.edu with any questions or to arrange a customized information session for your group!
How do I join NextGen?
Joining NextGen is easy, there is no formal application process. The network is open to all University of Washington undergraduates. We actively encourage participation from students that have lived experience in communities underrepresented at the UW.
Ready to join NextGen? Sign up to join the network and begin receiving the NextGen Newsletter today.
What happens after I join?
Once you sign up for the newsletter, you will start to receive updates direct to your inbox every Tuesday with the latest updates about upcoming events and opportunities for connection!
NextGen in the News
The Civics Generation // University of Washington Magazine
https://magazine.washington.edu/feature/next-gen-civic-leader-corps-a-program-from-the-evans-school-and-cele-center-aims-to-inspire-a-new-generation-into-public-service
Questions?
Please email