The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation to expand and strengthen its Mentor Matching Program.
This funding will support enhanced professional development opportunities for emerging scholars from underrepresented backgrounds who are conducting quantitative research in education policy. Through this investment, APPAM will provide structured mentorship, networking, and career development support to student researchers and early-career professionals.
The expanded program will include dedicated funding for student participation, the introduction of four “Super Mentors” who will lead monthly professional development sessions, and new programming at the 2026 APPAM Fall Research Conference in Boston. Conference-based activities will feature a centralized Mentoring Lounge, enhanced Speed Mentoring opportunities, and additional networking events designed to foster meaningful, long-term connections.
Since its launch in 2016, the APPAM Mentor Matching Program has connected students with experienced professionals across academia, government, nonprofits, and the private sector. Many of these relationships extend well beyond the program, supporting scholars throughout their careers.
This new initiative builds on that foundation with a targeted focus on education policy and quantitative methods—areas where mentorship and access to professional networks are especially critical. It also reflects APPAM’s ongoing commitment to supporting a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of public policy researchers.
With support from the Spencer Foundation, APPAM aims to create a more structured and sustainable mentoring model to equip the next generation of education researchers with the tools, connections, and guidance they need to succeed.
This summer, we will launch the mentor and mentee applications via the Weekly Brief email, social media, and the APPAM website.