Belong & Engage Program
Experience college life & practice leadership
The Belong & Engage Program is a 12-day residential seminar in June for high school juniors, hosted by ASU’s School of Politics and Global Studies. During the program, participants will explore democracy, build leadership skills, and take part in civic projects while experiencing life on a college campus. Participants will meet public officials, be mentored by ASU faculty and student leaders, and gain hands-on experience in civic engagement.
The learning doesn’t stop in June — participants will continue to receive mentorship, participate in monthly check-ins, and have opportunities to work on larger civic engagement projects throughout the year. We are currently accepting applications for the program and encourage you to apply!
Eligibility Requirements:
Must be a high school junior
Reside in the Phoenix metropolitan area
Interested in leadership and civic engagement
Motivated to explore democracy, civic projects, and public service
Important dates
The Summer 2026 program runs from June 7-June 19. The deadline to apply is April 4. Applicants will be notified by April 30.
Accommodations
Participants will live in dormitories on ASU's Tempe Campus. Students will have meal cards and onsite help from current college students.
Program fees
The program costs $3,990 and includes housing, meals and all activities. Full scholarships are also available, thanks to generous donor support
Beyond the summer
Participants will receive ongoing mentorship, monthly check-ins, participation in a large-scale civic engagement project, and guidance for college preparation.
What participants will gain
Participants in the Belong & Engage Program will build leadership skills, gain hands-on civic experience, and make lasting connections — strengthening their foundation in democracy and leadership.
College-level academic experience
Direct mentorship from ASU faculty
A portfolio-ready civic project
A network of peers who care about change
Ongoing mentorship through senior year
A Typical Day in the Belong & Engage Program
Life at the Belong & Engage Program blends college-level academics, real-world civic experiences, and the independence of living on a university campus — all within a supportive, structured community.
Morning
Each day begins with a shared breakfast with fellow participants in the campus dining hall — a built-in opportunity to connect, reflect, and gear up for the day ahead. Mornings are anchored by seminars led by ASU faculty at Coor Hall, where students dive deep into topics in democracy, leadership, and citizenship. Seminars are followed by a working lunch, keeping the conversation and momentum going.
Afternoon
Afternoons move off campus and into the field. Students take part in college-readiness workshops, hear from guest speakers, and join field trips that bring the curriculum to life — including visits to the Tempe City Offices, local nonprofit organizations, the Arizona State Legislature, the Governor's Office, and the Arizona Supreme Court. These experiences put students face-to-face with the civic institutions and leaders.
Evening
After dinner together in the dining hall, students have dedicated time for reading and preparation for the next day's seminars before enjoying supervised free time in the residence hall, supported by program fellows — current ASU college students who serve as mentors and guides throughout the residency.
The Two-Week Arc
The program builds toward a showcase experience: on the final Friday, participants present their own collaborative research projects— leaving with a clearer sense of how they can make an impact and pursue leadership opportunities in their own communities.
Meet the ASU team
Güneş Murat Tezcür
Güneş Murat Tezcür (Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2005) is Director of the School of Politics and Global Studies at ASU. A scholar of comparative politics, he explores political violence and identity across diverse communities — with a focus on Iranian, Kurdish, Turkish, and American human geography — and holds a deep commitment to higher education's transformative role in building a more equitable world.
Tara Lennon
Tara Lennon (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is a political theorist whose work bridges public policy and normative theory. She teaches political theory at ASU, researches civil deliberation and civic engagement, and develops student opportunities — including the Junior Fellows program and ASU's Arizona Legislative Internship — that connect students to real-world democratic participation.
David Ebner
Assistant Teaching Professor
School of Politics and Global Studies
Jennet Kirkpatrick
Jennet Kirkpatrick (Ph.D.) is a Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at ASU. Her research explores American political thought, with a focus on resistance, social movements, and how marginalized communities have historically pushed for social change — including through feminist theory and women's roles in resistance movements.
Kenicia Wright
Kenicia Wright (Ph.D., University of Houston) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at ASU. Her research applies an intersectional lens to questions of representation and public policy, examining how race, gender, and class shape outcomes for marginalized communities — from health disparities among women of color to political representation and equity in K-12 education.
Stella Rouse
Stella Rouse (Ph.D.) is Director of the Hispanic Research Center and Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at ASU. A native of Colombia and fluent Spanish speaker, her research examines how identity shapes political behavior and representation — with a focus on Latino communities and youth politics — bridging scholarship and civic engagement across diverse populations.
Kristin Cochran
Kristin Cochran is a Ph.D. student and teaching associate in political science at Arizona State University. She has a law degree and a masters in political science. Her research interests include populism, democratic backsliding, law, and human rights.
Carley Willis
Program Coordinator
School of Politics and Global Studies