“A once-in-a-lifetime experience”—that’s how Scott Andrews, ICMA-CM, county manager of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, described the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. Andrews received the William Ferguson Jr. scholarship from ICMA, sponsored by The Ferguson Group, to attend a 2024 session of the program.

He agreed with past scholarship recipients that the program was life-changing and a catalyst for career growth. “The program amplified my leadership and interpersonal skills, while also proving to be an incredible boost to landing my next big role. It has already opened several doors that I never imagined.”

With the 2025 scholarship application deadline approaching—January 31, 2025—prospective participants should act now to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Learn more at icma.org/harvard.

About the Program

Senior Executives in State and Local Government, a flagship program of the Harvard Kennedy School, provides a balance of both traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help even the most seasoned local government practitioners better address the concerns of their residents and communities.

This three-week program for senior executives in local government mimics a city ecosystem that allows participants to test solutions to various issues in real-time, enabling the participants to:

• Challenge their assumptions about how to exercise leadership in the public sector.
• Develop new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues.
• Examine innovative partnerships and new models of collaborative governance.
• Explore the relationship between citizens and their government.
• Understand the behavioral dimensions of decision making.
• Exchange ideas with experienced faculty and a diverse group of colleagues.

The program operates as an interactive classroom, in which participants and faculty work together on real-life case studies and learn from each other along the way. This classroom setting transforms into an interactive environment that serves as a forum for raising difficult issues, which provokes discussions that lead to change.

Scholarship Opportunity

While this program offers an invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, the tuition fee is still a factor that can influence one’s decision to apply for the program. For those who are reluctant to apply because of the price tag, ICMA awards yearly scholarships covering the tuition fee, which is $17,900 for the 2025 program. The scholarship recipient will only need to pay their own travel expenses. This generous scholarship is provided by ICMA Corporate Partner, The Ferguson Group. Scholarship recipients may participate in the June 2–20, 2025 or July 7–25, 2025 class.

2024 Scholarship Recipient Scott Andrews

Every year, we ask our scholarship recipient a few questions to hear more about their personal experience with the program. Here’s what Scott Andrews had to say:

What prompted you to apply for the scholarship?

I never imagined I would get the opportunity to attend Harvard, after failing out of my first two colleges and taking over a decade to get my “four-year degree.” The Harvard Kennedy School program itself is three weeks long, which is very intentional. The instructors are the best of the best; world-renowned professors, authors, thought leaders, and chiefs of industry with a specialization in local government.

I have always wanted to apply to the prestigious program, but both the cost and time commitment were more than I could afford. I had heard amazing things about the program from mentors and colleagues over the years. After the tragic death of my daughter last year, I stopped making excuses for why the timing was not ideal for me to attend. Life will always be busy, and I wanted to lead by example, so I decided to apply for the scholarship. I am so grateful that I did as it has already opened several doors that I never imagined.

What surprised you about your time in the program?

I was a bit surprised to hear that all of these amazing leaders from around the world also felt a little intimidated on day one. The program is set up in a way that allows you to make fast friends, expanding your knowledge base and network. By the end of day three, everyone already knew each other’s names. By the end of week three, I knew I had several new friends for life and several dozen other leaders that would lean in to support me as well. Many of us hear Harvard and put it on a pedestal, as we should. What surprised me the most was how this program blew away my already lofty expectations.

What did you enjoy most? What did you find most challenging?

I was amazed at the quality of the lectures, as well as the experiences shared by my classmates. My classmates were from all over the United States and at least a dozen other countries. As someone that truly values authentic experiences, my favorite part was hearing the success stories from my peers in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Ireland, and the Philippines. In many ways, we share the same issues, just on different scales and using different approaches.

The curriculum is current, fresh, and relevant, and the readings are enriched with practical, real-world case studies that provide powerful lessons. The skillsets and expertise of my classmates made their contributions to the class nearly as impactful as the professors. The attention to detail by the leadership team at Harvard was incredibly impressive. The staff go to great lengths to get to know the participants and ensure that everyone has an amazing learning experience. I certainly did, but it did not come without the challenge of extreme time management. 

There is a tremendous amount of reading and teamwork necessary for projects, as well as official and unofficial activities, not to mention all of the organic things taking place in Boston and at Harvard. There is a constant balance of maximizing the Harvard experience and metro Boston, while ensuring that you do the necessary work to not let your team down. Finding the proper balance during the program’s first week is critical for your successful completion.

Is there an aspect of the program you’re already incorporating on the job or even personally?

I put my new, sharpened leadership skills and improved network to use right away. I was appointed as the county manager of Doña Ana County, the second largest county in New Mexico, just a few months after my time at Harvard. Three of my classmates happened to be from New Mexico and were able to use lifelines on my behalf. Thus, I would say that the program amplified my leadership and interpersonal skills, while also proving to be an incredible boost to landing my next big role.

Learn more about the program here.