The Washington Post’s Post Next 50 spotlight series names legal scholar Nicole Stelle Garnett among the individuals shaping society in 2026 as part of its annual “people to watch” list. The interactive project, published February 9, 2026, by Washington Post staff, highlights 50 emerging influencers across politics, culture, science, business and social movements who aren’t widely known — yet are poised to have outsized impact on public discourse and policy in the year ahead.
Garnett, a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame, is featured for her leadership in debates over publicly funded religious charter schools, an issue at the intersection of education policy, religious liberty and constitutional law.
Her inclusion reflects rising national conversations about school choice and the role of government in supporting faith-based education. Read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/interactive/2026/nicole-garnett/
