Learn about our vision, why we exist and the people behind the Society.
We believe that public service ought to stand again as one of the highest callings of a free people. The Civics Society is dedicated to rekindling civic purpose among the nation’s brightest minds and renewing faith in the American experiment. We dedicate ourselves to informing, inspiring and equipping a generation to see public service not as a sacrifice but as a vocation worthy of their highest aspirations.
Our mission is to create visible, accessible career pipelines and increase the number of students who pursue internships or full‑time positions in public service. By drawing more young leaders into the work of sustaining our republic, we aim to strengthen democratic institutions and serve the common good.
Middlebury College’s mission calls on students to lead engaged, consequential and creative lives and to address the world’s most challenging problems. In a moment defined by sharpening geopolitical tensions, accelerating climate pressures and deep domestic polarization, our country needs thoughtful leaders who can translate these values into concrete public outcomes.
Despite Middlebury’s excellence in international studies and policy research, only about eight percent of graduates currently enter public service. The Civics Society aims to change this by expanding the pipeline into government and the broader public‑service ecosystem and by connecting students with Washington’s institutional landscape where well‑trained talent is urgently needed.
The Civics Society was founded by Middlebury alumni who share a conviction that public service is a calling—not a sacrifice—and who sought to build pathways that connect talented students to meaningful civic careers. Their diverse experiences in government, research and campus leadership shape the Society’s mission and programs.
Isabel Chandler is an Associate at JPMorganChase's Center for Geopolitics.
Daniel works as a research assistant at the RAND Corporation.
Catherine works at Margin Research as a Chinese-language open source intelligence analyst.
The Civics Society is governed by an Executive Committee composed of officers elected each year. Roles include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Director and Events Chair. Each officer serves a one‑year term and works together to advance the Society’s mission.
