Record number of future leaders join the Presidential Management Fellows Program

Nine Arizona State University students and alumni will have the opportunity to change the world from within the U.S. federal government. Thanks to the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, these nine finalists are eligible for placement in full-time, two-year appointments with full salary and benefits and receive experiential training and professional development that prepares them for leadership positions in the government.

“The Presidential Management Fellowship is truly an elite opportunity for our graduates,” said Kyle Mox, associate dean of national scholarships and director for the Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement (ONSA), which provides guidance to ASU applicants and alumni who seek major external scholarships and fellowships. “Awards like this can be life changing and usually serve as steppingstones to impressive career opportunities,” he added.

ASU has placed a record number of students two years in a row. The latest cohort gathers academics from diverse fields — from global security and psychology to applied leadership and science and tech policy.

For one finalist, Andrea Hanson, social work is not just a degree, it’s personal.

“I got involved because I wanted to help others. I am specifically interested in older adult issues because of my mother and what she went through in a long-term care facility. My mother passed away in 2020, which drove my desire to create change in areas of policy and legislation,” Hanson explained. "(The) Presidential Management Fellowship appealed to me because it is a training program that prepares one for leadership with the federal government. I also felt that I would have the possibility to work in areas that I am passionate about and use my social work skills."

During her time at ASU, Hanson was an advanced student, meaning she received her degree after only a year of study. Recently, she graduated summa cum laude from Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions with a master’s degree in social work and a concentration in policy, administration and community practice (PAS).

Following graduation, she accepted an offer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a public health analyst. 

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 87% of selected fellows have taken a permanent or term position after the program.

Applying for the Presidential Management Fellowship

At ASU, faculty, advisors, coordinators and mentors are keen on spotting individuals who can fulfill the vision of awards such as the Presidential Management Fellowship, including the Graduate College and ONSA. 

Mitch Hobza, senior program manager for distinguished graduate fellowships at ONSA, describes some of these resources: “We provide support for students to succeed in their applications for awards such as (the) Presidential Management Fellowship. At ONSA, we collaborate with the Graduate College to notify graduate students of these awards and provide advising and support for them to submit an application that best represents their talents and ambitions.”

The Presidential Management Fellows Program invites applications from graduate students who are interested in working for the federal government after the completion of their degree. Applications for the next cycle will open in the fall. ASU graduate students and alumni interested in applying are encouraged to be on the lookout for programming, such as the PMF’s virtual information sessions, once the fall semester starts.

Additionally, ONSA will host an upcoming information session on graduate fellowships that open career pathways in the federal government, such as the PMF and the Boren Fellowship, which can support graduate research and language study that are critical to national security. 

2023 Presidential Management Fellows Program finalists from ASU:

• Mark Ackermann, ‘20 MA in global security at the School of Politics and Global Studies.

• Brittan Cook, ‘22 MA in global security at the School of Politics and Global Studies.

• Andrea Hanson, ‘22 MSW in social work at Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

• Dannielle Menafee, ‘20 MS in applied leadership and management at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

• HyeJung Park, ‘22 PhD in psychology at the Department of Psychology.
  

• Blaine Rivas, ‘20 MS in science and technology policy at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.

• Ashley Bennett, ‘22 MS in biological data science at New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

• Edward Morris, ‘22 MS in legal studies at Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

• Natalie Meyer, ‘23 MS in social work at Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.