Paragon is a tech policy fellowship that connects local governments with a team of talented students from local colleges and universities to conduct in-depth research on a tech policy issue. Our Fellows are passionate about public service and are eager to make a difference in their community.
Hands-On Policy Experience
Fellows contribute 5-10 hours of remote work per week for three months to develop technology policy for a state or local government. They develop policy in direct collaboration with the government officials responsible for implementing their ideas. So far, our Fellows' policy in AI, cybersecurity, digital accessiblity, and more has already touched the lives of 10+ million people.
Training & Resources
Fellows learn how to think about and write policy through our bootcamps and the policy workshops we run throughout the cohort. They also get to hear from our guest speakers, who are academics, activists, and public and private sector leaders.
Entry into the Tech Policy Community
Fellows join our growing alumni network and network with some of the most promising future leaders in the tech policy field. Current and former Fellows also can take advantage of our exclusive mentorship program, where they form deep relationships with and gain guidance from established names in the tech policy space.
$500 Stipend
Fellows who successfully complete the program receive a $500 stipend to compensate them for their hard work.
Fellows placed on 35 projects from 100+ colleges and universities nationally
identify as underrepresented in technology and policy
hours dedicated to tech policy research
established partnerships with state and local governments across 15 U.S. states and territories
“While Georgia now has an AI policy in effect, the massive boom of generative AI has brought with it specific challenges. Paragon Fellows worked with the GTA to recommend enforcement and education mechanisms to address generative AI's potential effect on government operations at the state level. The work produced by Paragon will help inform a GenAI policy that contains guidelines for the use of generative AI by all 40,000 state employees.”
—Nikhil Deshpande, Chief Digital and AI Officer, Georgia Technology Authority
“Paragon has been immensely fulfilling and reaffirmed my commitment to responsible technological advancement. I appreciated directly working with our government partner and being some of the first in helping San José build capacity against generative AI miscommunication.”
—Isabelle Anzabi, Spring 2024 San José Fellow
“Paragon Fellows helped us with Language Access—specifically, in support of the Office of New Americans created in 2024 to assist immigrants in the St. Louis area. Their research laid the groundwork for developing a comprehensive language access plan for our city, and their final report included actionable recommendations that will undoubtedly improve language access services for our residents.”
—Simon Huang, Chief Technology Officer, City of St. Louis, Missouri
“As a nontraditional and early career tech policy student, I know how critical it is for students to have early exposure to the tech policy sector; however, the barrier to obtain experience is not often accessible and sometimes not achievable. Paragon provides the opportunity to have hands-on experience working with a government partner on a tech policy initiative—a reality that I did not think was possible. To have the incredible privilege to conduct in-depth research on a real-world tech policy challenge, it reaffirms my passions about public service, making a difference in their community, and learning how to build leadership.”
—Yvette Vargas, Spring 2025 Albuquerque Project Lead
“Paragon Fellows helped our city create a comprehensive AI procurement framework, establishing a structured approach for evaluating AI technologies against core values such as privacy, security, equity, and transparency. This framework will directly benefit over 15,000 residents and ensure all future AI applications align with ethical standards and serve the public responsibly.”
—Melanie McDonough, Chief Innovation Officer, City of Lebanon, New Hampshire
“Paragon helped me view tech policy not just as a regulatory framework, but also as a dynamic tool for shaping innovation. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work directly with a government partner and gain firsthand insight into their needs and challenges, something that is hard to experience as a college student.”
—Aditya Seth, Spring 2025 Santa Clara County Fellow