Archer Center Celebrates 25 Years of Public Service and Leadership Education

The Archer Center marked its 25th anniversary in spring 2026, commemorating a quarter-century of preparing students from University of Texas institutions for leadership and careers in public service. The anniversary was marked with a major celebration at the Library of Congress over the weekend, as well as alumni homecoming activities in Washington, D.C.

"The Archer Center exists because of the vision and leadership of Congressman Bill Archer and Don Carlson - their belief in preparing the next generation of public service leaders through immersion in public service itself," said University of Texas System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, M.D. "Now, more than two decades later, the Archer Center continues to thrive and grow, providing students from UT institutions with a unique and important hands-on experience in our nation's capital. I'm proud to celebrate the extraordinary impact this program has had over the past 25 years - on our students, on public service, and on our communities across Texas, the nation, and the world."

Founded in 2001 following the retirement of Congressman Bill Archer, the Archer Center was established to carry forward Archer's lifelong commitment to public service, civic engagement, and career-integrated education. Since the center's founding, more than 2,200 undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students from across UT institutions have participated in the Archer Fellowship Program.

Archer Fellows spend a semester or summer in Washington, D.C., completing full-time internships while engaging in academic coursework centered on the policymaking process. Fellows have interned at the White House, on Capitol Hill, at the U.S. Supreme Court, in federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, at international institutions, and in public-service-focused roles within the private sector. Alumni have gone on to pursue influential careers in government, law, medicine, business, nonprofits, and higher education. Others have earned prestigious national and international honors, including Truman, Marshall, Rhodes, Schwarzman, Goldwater, and Fulbright scholarships, as well as the Presidential Management Fellowship and the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

"Congressman Bill Archer's 24 years in the House minority taught him to achieve his goals across party lines through respect and collaboration, even amid policy disagreements," said Don Carlson, Archer's longtime chief of staff and Archer Center co-founder. "Within the Texas Congressional Delegation, the 'Archer Rule' - that no member should speak ill of another - reflects Archer's legacy for bipartisan cooperation and principled leadership."

Congressman Archer's dedication to student engagement began early in his congressional career. Upon entering Congress in 1971, he established a student internship program for high school students from his home district. The program's 30-year success and lasting impact served as an early model for what would later become the Archer Fellowship Program.

The April 25th celebration at the Library of Congress served as a cornerstone of the anniversary year and coincided with a multi-day alumni homecoming, welcoming Archer Fellows back to Washington, D.C. Alumni, current students, university leaders, and program stakeholders gathered to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the shared experiences that have shaped the Archer Center's enduring impact.

"For 25 years, the Archer Center has helped students connect academic study with purposeful public service," said Katie Romano, executive director of the Archer Center. "This anniversary honors Congressman Archer's vision, celebrates the alumni who carry it forward, and reaffirms our commitment to preparing future leaders who serve with integrity, curiosity, and collaboration."

More information about the Archer Center and its anniversary activities is available at https://www.archercenter.org.