MSU PLS student named a finalist for the Truman Scholarship

February 26, 2026 - Anneliese Mackel and Kristin Janka

Public Policy major Lily Dixon is one of two MSU students named as a finalist in the nationally competitive Truman Scholarship.

The Truman Scholarship, sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, recognizes students with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to affecting change through public service. It provides financial support for graduate study and leadership training for approximately 62 students each year.

Dixon grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and graduated from Marquette Senior High School. She is pursuing dual degrees in Public Policy and Art & Humanities with a concentration in Community Engagement. Her policy interests include juvenile justice, rural representation, and the intersection of the arts, culture, and public policy. She is also a Political Science Scholar, a third-year Honors College and minoring in design justice and music.

Dixon's post-graduation plans include a joint JD/MPP program. She aspires to a career in public service, whether that means shaping legislation, advancing policy research, or one day running for office.

The other finalist is Eleanor Pugh, a third-year Honors College student majoring in international relations through James Madison College and Russian through the College of Arts and Letters and minoring in economics, Muslim studies, and Russian and Eurasian studies. 

The foundation received 781 applications from 305 institutions for this cycle. Awardees will be announced in the coming months.