Cooper Smith
As part of our 2024 holiday giving campaign, we’re excited to feature weekly alumni spotlights highlighting our At-Large alumni.
The campaign directly supports the At-Large Fellows program, empowering the next generation of civic-minded leaders!
This year, we’re introducing a new way to give through monthly sustaining donations! When you make a one-time gift of $100 or become a monthly donor, you’ll receive exclusive CSPC-branded gifts, be entered into a raffle for tickets to our prestigious CSPC Awards Gala, and be recognized in our Leadership Circle.
Help us reach 25 donors before 2025 to help sustain and grow this incredible program!
Click on the “Donate” button to learn more!
What are you doing now?
Currently, I'm living in London on the second year of a Marshall Scholarship, which I am using to further my research in legal history and comparative politics (actually, I'm living with another CSPC fellow from my year). I also work remotely in the US at the National Constitution Center as a Constitutional Content Fellow, where I've been focused on nonpartisan public civics education on constitutional history, politics, and law.
How did you hear about the At-Large Fellows program and what inspired you to apply?
I stumbled across the Fellows Program by accident. I was doing research for a summer project, and I found CSPC. As I read about the Fellows Program, I was enthralled. I was looking for a community of scholars interested in public service across a range of fields and industries. This felt like the right fit. But to my horror, the application deadline was the following morning. Thanks to a wonderful advisor (who didn't balk at the late-night phone call), I made the deadline and was able to join the wonderful CSPC community
What was your favorite experience during the Fellowship?
My favorite experience during the Fellowship wasn't official programming. Don't get me wrong—the entire DC program was delightful. It helped me expand my horizons and bolden my vision for a public service career. But the best experiences were the informal ones. All of the late-night food runs, the morning coffee chats, and the lunch conversations with the other outstanding Fellows. I've made several close friendships and connections, ones that I've kept since the program ended. These connections would not have been possible without the Fellows Program.
How has the Fellowship supported your academic or career goals?
The research project allowed me to explore an extension to my undergraduate thesis. Due to publication restraints, I had another avenue for historical research I couldn't pursue fully. I relegated it to a brief mention in the footnotes. But thanks to the Fellows Program, I had the resources, support, and motivation to develop this avenue into a standalone project. And that project has shaped how I view the power of the Reconstruction era and its enduring legacy on constitutional law and American democracy.