One of the reasons for establishing the FEI campus in Charlottesville, Virginia is the proximity of the University of Virginia (UV). The founders of FEI anticipated a close intellectual relationship with UV. FEI and UV continue to work together through service by UV faculty members as FEI adjuncts and vice versa, FEI participant and faculty use of UV research and athletic facilities, and FEI recruitment of UV students to serve as graduate fellows and undergraduate interns.

FEI’s Adjunct Faculty includes representatives from a wide range of U.S. colleges and universities including Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Georgetown University, and the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.