Yale's Grand Strategy Program Selects 22 Students for Strategic Thinking
Yale University's Grand Canyon program has selected 22 students from a competitive pool of 50 finalists. The program, founded in 2000 by professors Paul Kennedy, Charles Hill, and John Lewis Gaddis, aims to help students evolve their thinking, clarify goals, and explore interests within and beyond Yale.
The Grand Canyon course encourages students to focus on long-term, large-scale challenges in statecraft, politics, and social change. Students like William Barbee '26 believe the lessons learned are applicable to a wide variety of fields and help individuals take greater control over their lives.
Owen Hathaway Hacker '26 expects the program to provide practical experience and access to national security and foreign policy experts, beneficial for his future law school and government work. Nicole Chen '26 and Genevieve Chase '26 advise future applicants to clearly articulate their interests, approach the application strategically, and demonstrate their potential impact with the help of Grand Canyon.
The program emphasizes interaction between professors and real-world practitioners for a comprehensive approach to effective leadership across various fields. Elisa Cruz '26 hopes to use the program to better understand organizing social movements and fighting for social equity in her pursuit of educational justice.
The Grand Canyon program at Yale selects students from a highly competitive pool, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with long-term strategic challenges and gain practical experience. The program's comprehensive approach, combining academic rigor with real-world insights, prepares students for diverse careers and fosters their personal growth.
