Bridging the Gap (BTG), a leading multi-institutional initiative housed jointly at American University’s School of International Service (SIS) and the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, has announced it has secured over $2 million in renewed funding to expand its mission of connecting academic research with the foreign policy community through conversation and exposure.

The funding, which extends through December 2028, is provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Raymond Frankel Foundation. This significant investment ensures the continuation of BTG’s flagship professional development programs while fueling the launch of new initiatives designed to diversify and modernize the voices heard in national security debates and academic spaces.

Expanding the "New Voices" in National Security

A cornerstone of the newly funded cycle is the expansion of the New Voices in National Security initiative. Supported by the Raymond Frankel Foundation, this program aims to dismantle the silos between academia and the West Wing by bringing emerging and established scholars into direct conversation with key members of the policy community.

Under the new grant, BTG will significantly increase its output, convening five workshops and roundtables each year. These gatherings are specifically designed to address pressing international security challenges through the presentation of policy-oriented research memos, followed by open dialogue between scholars and practitioners.

The goal is twofold: to ensure that cutting-edge, research-based knowledge reaches decision-makers and to expand the set of expert voices participating in the nation’s most critical foreign policy debates.

Building a Pipeline for Global Impact

The $2 million in support will also sustain BTG’s four primary programs, which provide a career-spanning pipeline for scholars and students:

• The New Era Workshop (NEW): Professional development for PhD students focused on policy-relevant research.
• The International Policy Summer Institute (IPSI): Specialized training for post-doctoral scholars and faculty to help translate complex research for non-academic audiences.
• The Foundations of International Relations Studies & Training (FIRST): A program guiding undergraduate students toward international affairs careers across government, non-profits, and the private sector.
• The New Voices Workshops: Targeted exchanges between early-career scholars and policy practitioners.

New Resources for a Digital Era

Beyond its traditional workshops, BTG is set to launch an open-access platform that will make its training materials and resources publicly available. This includes the creation of new practical guides aimed at helping scholars navigate the rapidly evolving media and political landscape to engage in effective public outreach.

The initiative is led by a team of distinguished scholars, including AU’s Jordan Tama (Principal) and James Goldgeier (Senior Adviser). Other principals include Naazneen Barma of the University of Denver and Brent Durbin of Smith College. Goldgeier also continues his role as co-editor for the acclaimed Bridging the Gap book series with Oxford University Press.

For more information on the project and upcoming workshops, visit the BTG website.