SLU Political Science Major Appointed to New Aspen Institute Advisory Group

SLU Political Science Major Appointed to New Aspen Institute Advisory Group

Saint Louis University political science major Faith Townsell has been appointed to the Aspen Institute's Rising Generations Strategy Group, a national advisory body within the Institute's Education & Society Program.

Rising Generations Strategy Group is a new initiative designed to shape a bold, shared vision for the future of American education. Organizers aim to bring together emerging leaders from across the country to help shape the future of education policy and practice, particularly in response to major shifts like artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, and growing dissatisfaction with the educational system.

Townsell was named to the inaugural Youth Advisory Partners cohort.

"This means so much to me," Townsell said. "As someone who was raised in an inner-city neighborhood in Chicago whose local schools hardly had regular access to textbooks and even playgrounds, I had to consistently test into schools in higher-income areas. I hope that through this board, I can bring to light the disparities of urban schools."

Townsell was one of 40 people selected to form the inaugural advisory board. Eight of the seats were reserved for young people. She said the acceptance rate of the position was about 1.6%

Townsell will be on the board for three years. In this role, she will collaborate with military leaders, CEOs, and individuals from positions in former presidential administrations to brainstorm on how to best meet the needs of current K-12 education, she said.

The first official meeting will take place in July in Aspen, Colorado.

Co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and former North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, the group reflects a cross-partisan commitment to ensuring that education systems evolve to meet the needs of the next generation. The group of 40 leaders in education includes the CEO of Teach For America, Aneesh Sohoni, former U.S. Secretary of Education under Obama, Arne Duncan, and the President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Mark Hoplamazian.

"Through this position, I will collaborate with others at an institution that has been dedicated to being the nation's leader in gathering the brightest individuals in their respective fields for the last 70 years, and I couldn't be more excited," she said.

Last fall, Townsell was named a 2025-2027 Voyager Scholarship Recipient by The Obama Foundation. The scholarship supports students who have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what's possible through public service.