BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards opened the application process for the 2020 Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government.
The program is an opportunity for college and university students to experience public policy in action, learn the rich history and current affairs of Louisiana government, and earn three hours of academic credit.
"Since we began the fellowship program three years ago, its success has cultivated and inspired the next generation of leaders in Louisiana," Gov. Edwards said. "I encourage all college-aged students to apply if they have a sincere interest in better understanding how state government works to serve the citizens of our great state and learning how they can help our state move forward. Louisiana's young people are the future, and I'm looking forward to meeting the next group of leaders who will lead our state and our country."
Fellows will be assigned to cabinet-level agencies to observe first-hand how the governor leads and how policies are developed, advanced and implemented. Fellows will also participate in a weekly speaker series and take field trips designed to enhance the overall experience and understanding of Louisiana government and current affairs.
The program is open to all students currently attending a Louisiana higher education institution as well as Louisiana residents enrolled in out-of-state colleges and universities. Fellows will be chosen based on students' commitment to leadership, public service and good government.
Participating students will receive housing on the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) for the duration of the fellowship, a stipend up to $1,500 and three credit hours through the LSU Public Administration Institute. The governor’s fellows program is a partnership between the Office of the Governor, the Lamar Family, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
Zoe Williamson, an alumna of the 2017 inaugural fellows class who is now enrolled in George Washington University's Masters Program, said the program has allowed her to excel professionally.
"The skills I learned and the connections I made as a fellow have helped me find a job right out of college that I was excited about. As a communications fellow, the program gave me greater context for the communications and political work that I am now doing every day in Washington D.C., and it made me more passionate about the work I was doing around the state of Louisiana," Williamson said. "The people I met, the skills I learned, and the experience I had in the Governors Fellows program continue to help me in my career."
The application process is open now and will close on March 4, 2020. For more information about requirements and application procedures, follow this link https://gov.louisiana.gov/page/governors-fellows-program-in-louisiana-government