Segall Innovation Fellowship

THE ROLE: Segall Innovation Fellowship

American Student Assistance™ (ASA) is a national nonprofit that is changing the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures through access to career-readiness information and experiences.

ASA fulfills its mission through free digital-first direct experiences, philanthropy, advocacy, thought leadership, groundbreaking research, and impact investing. We believe that exploring career possibilities, as early as middle school, and providing access to education-to-career pathways aligned with one’s passions and goals will result in greater confidence and long-term success for all students.

We are looking for a current graduate student or postdoctoral scholar in education, public policy, social science, media and communications, or a related field to be a Segall Innovation Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year (August 2025 - May 2026).

What You'll Do:

The Fellowship is an opportunity to develop substantive skills and business acumen while making progress on the Fellow’s area of scholarly focus. Fellows will have the ability to collaborate with ASA on a project that is aligned with ASA’s mission and draws on the Fellow’s unique background. Examples of projects of interest to ASA include conducting innovative research on the perspectives of kids and the adults that support them, tackling complex education technology challenges, or sourcing, analyzing, and developing educational policy recommendations for the federal, state, and local levels. However, ASA is open to a wide range of other educational research that aligns with helping students imagine their life after high school.

Over the course of this program, Innovation Fellows will address real-world challenges in support of ASA’s mission with a focus on collaborative problem-solving, solution ideation, and experimenting with innovative approaches to delivering resources that address persistent obstacles to successful career and post-secondary school exploration, experimentation, and choice, all while acting as ASA’s ambassadors for innovation and enduring positive change.

Segall Innovation Fellows will be part of a mission to ensure that young people are able to attain the skills and knowledge required to navigate a complex post-high school world. Fellows will be presented with opportunities while working closely with ASA staff to build the creative confidence and entrepreneurial mindset needed to build a better future for themselves and their peers.

You will bring innovation to ASA while developing substantive skills, business acumen, and most importantly, a proprietary project that will draw on your background to help conduct innovative research, tackle complex business models and sustainability questions, or analyzing and developing policy recommendations.

About You:

• You are currently enrolled in or have graduated with a master’s degree, PhD, or postdoc in education, public policy, social science (e.g., political science, sociology, psychology), or a related field.
• Dynamic, self-starter with a passion for understanding the behaviors and mindset of a younger demographic.
• Eager to apply your knowledge to making social impact.
• Thrive in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment. You pay close attention to details, and approach problems with a solution orientation.
• Highly collaborative and can communicate effectively with a variety of teammates.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex ideas to a broad range of stakeholders in compelling and visually engaging ways.
• Experience in launching student programs, apps, platforms, or digital experiences is a plus.
• Strong collaborative skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.

Why ASA?

ASA offers a wide range of perks and benefits to Associates, including weekly lunches, in-office events, and more!

We also heavily prioritize a healthy work/life balance, Summer Fridays (every Friday off between Memorial Day and Labor Day), and a company holiday break between December 25th and January 1st.

ASA works in a Hybrid schedule (2) two days a week in our Boston HQ. We prioritize strategic thinkers, collaborators, and work/life pros who are looking to help make a difference in kid's education and career goals.