Greg Torres Senior Fellows Program

Applications open on January 15, 2026 and submissions will be considered on a rolling basis. The fellowship is a two-year commitment, beginning in April 2026 and running through March 2028. We expect to select 4–5 Fellows for the 2026–2028 cohort. Torres Senior Fellows are provided with a $7500 annual stipend and a $2500 annual programming stipend to be used toward project costs such as travel, events, conference registrations, etc.  

Torres Senior Fellows customize their goals and workplan to align with MassINC’s organizational priorities and their professional interests. Fellows will engage in a wide range of activities, including:

• convening working groups to tackle complex challenges
• organizing events and conferences
• strengthening CommonWealth Beacon’s journalism
• writing articles and reports
• guiding ongoing MassINC research
• facilitating introductions and partnerships
• collaborating with MassINC staff and interns

Fellows may be placed within the MassINC Policy Center, the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, CommonWealth Beacon, or the MassINC administrative team depending on their background and projects. 

Strong fellowship projects are those that are well-scoped and ready for focused attention, with clear awareness of feasibility and time constraints. Fellows are expected to balance their existing responsibilities (e.g., full-time employment, board service, volunteer commitments) with the time required to advance a substantial project over the two-year term. 

MassINC will review applications on a rolling basis and select Fellows through a competitive process designed to build a strong, diverse cohort of leaders from across Massachusetts. Final decisions will be guided by the program’s goals and MassINC’s organizational priorities for the 2026–2028 fellowship term.

Selection will consider the following factors:

• Alignment with MassINC’s mission and values, including a demonstrated commitment to strengthening communities across Massachusetts through evidence-based ideas, civic leadership, and journalism.
• Professional expertise and leadership experience relevant to public policy, civic engagement, community development, research, and/or coalition-building.
• Ability to contribute meaningfully to the cohort and program goals, including readiness to collaborate, convene partners, engage new audiences, and identify new funding streams.
• A track record of impact, including influence in professional networks and the ability to help elevate timely issues and urgent policy ideas.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to share ideas with clarity across sectors and audiences.
• Interest in contributing to MassINC’s work, such as research development, public-facing publications, convenings, and partnerships.
• Cohort balance and representation, including diversity across geography, sector, lived experience, identity, and perspective.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a brief interview with MassINC leadership and staff. Fellows will be notified by mid-March 2026.