Tocqueville Fellowship
The Tocqueville Fellowship Program was designed to identify, educate, and mentor future leaders in public service, law, academia, industry, and the Church. It is geared toward intellectually curious undergraduates at Notre Dame interested in discussing fundamental questions related to politics, law, culture, economics, philosophy, and religion.
Each semester, we select 20-25 fellows who form an intellectually diverse and interdisciplinary community of students. Fellows receive special invitations to meet privately with prominent academics and leaders visiting Notre Dame. They also engage in a close-knit intellectual community, participating in discussion-based colloquia and social events with other students, faculty, and CCCG staff.
Beyond these on-campus activities, Tocqueville Fellows are also plugged into the extensive network of the CCCG. Through this network, fellows have been accepted into summer programs and internships, and even found jobs post-graduation. Moreover, while at Notre Dame, fellows are able to apply for funding to support their participation in conferences, academic programs, and internships.
What does a typical semester look like?
To provide a recent example, during the Fall 2024 semester, fellows opened the term by getting to know one another over a welcome breakfast and then participated in a weekend colloquium that explored the socio-political themes in Ivan Turgenev's classic novel Fathers and Sons.
Then, over the course of the semester, fellows had private conversations over breakfast or lunch with a variety of CCCG guest speakers: Emory Professor John Witte (on U.S. religious liberty jurisprudence), Cardinal Gerhard Müller (on the role of faith in public life), UC-Berkeley Professor John Yoo and LA Times Columnist Harry Litman (on the 2024 election), FL Gov. Ron DeSantis (on his political career and vision for the country), and Stanford Professor Jay Bhattacharya (on the policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Beyond this formal programming, the fellows also had the opportunity to attend several social events: a CCCG tailgate; a private campus tour with CCCG Co-Director Don Stelluto; casual lunches with each other; and a Christmas party.
How do I get involved?
Tocqueville Fellows are selected on a semester-by-semester basis, through a competitive application process. Applications open twice a year, in advance of the fall and spring semesters.
Applications for the Fall 2026 term are no longer being accepted. Applications for the Spring 2027 term will open in October 2026.
Learn About the Application Process
If you have questions about the fellowship, please contact CCCG Associate Director Tyler Castle at tcastle2@nd.edu.
Highlights
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Jackie Nguyen ‘26
Theology, Economics, and Constitutional Studies
Being a Tocqueville Fellow motivates me in the pursuit of truth through rich friendship and provides a wellspring of growth and knowledge to draw from. I can’t wait to continue to foster these friendships with my peers, as I know our conversations and relationships will bear much fruit far beyond the fellowship.
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Jackie Nguyen ‘26
Theology, Economics, and Constitutional Studies
Being a Tocqueville Fellow motivates me in the pursuit of truth through rich friendship and provides a wellspring of growth and knowledge to draw from. I can’t wait to continue to foster these friendships with my peers, as I know our conversations and relationships will bear much fruit far beyond the fellowship.
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Will Grannis ‘25
Honors Mathematics, Theology, and Constitutional Studies
My political views have shifted significantly throughout my time at Notre Dame, and therefore I’m keenly aware that my judgments are fallible. Being part of a community of students diligently considering and debating a wide variety of topics in political philosophy is a godsend since I am able to hear some of the strongest cases for positions that I don’t hold, once held, or might at some time in the future come to believe.
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Alejandra Ricardo ‘26
Political Science, Theology, and Constitutional Studies
As a double major in Political Science and Theology, I’ve always had a keen interest in the intersection of law, politics, and religion, given their universal presence in human life and society. The Tocqueville Fellowship provides students the space to explore the intersection between faith and politics. I look forward to discussing the ways in which these two institutions can work together to advance human well-being and the common good, for which the pursuit of truth is essential.
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Mercedes Curran ‘27
Political Science and Theology
Much of today’s discourse around our nation’s political and religious life fails to see the opportunity to bridge these two essential dimensions of the human person. The Tocqueville Fellowship recognizes this need and offers a critical space to grow in faith-guided, principled leadership through respectful and constructive dialogue.
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Eric Gordy ‘26
Economics and Political Science
The Tocqueville Fellowship has contributed to my development in many ways. Through colloquiums, I was exposed to new ideas that challenged my previous beliefs, and I was able to improve my debating and reasoning skills through discussions with my peers. Additionally, the opportunity to meet with various speakers was deeply formative, allowing me to develop important connections and learn from the insights of various political thinkers and leaders.