Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service
Learn. Serve. Lead.
Advancing democracy through education, research, and public service.
Upcoming News and events
- What do Washingtonians think about the upcoming midterm elections? See your new WA voter survey report co-authored by Foley director Thessalia Merivaki and Foley Fellow Carah Ong Whaley here.
- Thursday, November 12, 12pm, Pullman. What happened? The midterms in context with Samara Klar.
- Tuesday, November 3, 12pm, Pullman. Election Prediction Panel with Todd Donovan, WWU, Thessalia Merivaki, and Travis Ridout, both WSU.
- Have a question about the election? Check out our Ask the Foley Institute!
- Interested in finding out more about the three initiatives on Washington’s ballot this year? See our cosponsored debate on them.
At a Glance
- Established in 1995 to honor Speaker Thomas S. Foley, 49th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Provides 40–50 internships each year in Congress, the Washington Legislature, campaigns, and public agencies
- Home to annual public events reaching 3,000–4,000 people statewide
- Supports research and scholarship on public policy and democratic institutions through fellowships, professorships, and conferences
Student Opportunities
- Internships: Real-world experience in legislative offices, campaigns, and agencies
- Scholarships: Support for undergraduates preparing for careers in public service
- Mentorship: Faculty and professional networks that connect learning to leadership
Research & Scholarship
- Endowed Professorships: Supporting faculty expertise in public policy and democratic institutions
- Fellowships & Grants: Advancing student and faculty-led research projects
- Collaborations: Sponsoring interdisciplinary research conferences and partnerships across fields
Public Engagement
- Lectures & Symposia: Bringing national leaders, policymakers, and scholars to campus and the state
- Conferences: Creating spaces for dialogue on pressing issues in democracy and governance
- Community Reach: Thousands of participants annually, connecting students and the public to civic life
- Publications: Sharing insights and impact through the Foley Report and annual magazine
We are a non-partisan public policy institute, focused on bringing world class speakers to our public events; supporting student internships in public service; and supporting scholarly research on public policy and political institutions. We invite you to join us. Please stop by the Foley Institute on the 3rd floor of Bryan Hall, WSU Pullman.
Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service in the News
Межа – Colom’s narrow Senate lead puts Mississippi voter rolls under scrutiny
In this review from the Ukrainian media outlet Mezha, Thessalia Merivaki is quoted from an interview with Axios about the high number of inactive voter registrations in Mississippi during this election cycle.
TRT World – The other Democratic victory: How midterms changed who oversees America’s elections
Thessalia Merivaki, director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, spoke with TRT World about how Democratic victories in the November midterm elections reflects dissatisfaction among American voters.
WXYZ – As Mississippi’s vote count drags on, voters say they were marked inactive in error
In this Scripps News article carried by WXYZ Detroit, Thessalia Merivaki of the Foley Institute provides insight into Mississippi’s use of Experian data to clean its voter rolls prior to the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Democracy Docket – Mississippi made thousands of valid voters inactive ahead of critical Senate race
Thessalia Merivaki, director of the Foley Institute, spoke to Democracy Docket about the large number of voter inactivations and affidavit voting in Tuesday’s elections in Mississippi.