Our nation’s current and future challenges—the COVID-19 pandemic and national security threats to economic turmoil, racial inequity and more—make it imperative that government identify, recruit and retain the next generation of public servants.
With just under 7% of the full-time federal workforce under the age of 30, executive branch agencies are working to meet this need, prioritizing the design and implementation of paid internship programs that provide students with valuable work experience, an expanded professional network, and a better understanding of the importance and impact of public service.
Managed by the Partnership for Public Service, the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. The program is actively recruiting its fall 2023 cohort to join the Department of Transportation, National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration as paid interns. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across all academic disciplines are welcome to apply. Fully remote and in-person opportunities are available.
The program benefits and eligibility vary by each agency; interested candidates are strongly encouraged to review each carefully and email [email protected] with any questions.
Program Benefits
Open only to students from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
Selected participants in the program will receive:
- A 10-12 week fall internship at the Department of Transportation
- Part-time interns (part-time defined as 20 hours/week) receive a stipend of $3,500 provided directly by the Schar School
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the fall.
Selected participants in the program will receive:
- A 10-12 week fall internship at the National Science Foundation
- Stipends:
- Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $6,500, plus $5,500 for housing and travel expenses.
- Part-time interns (part-time defined as 20 hours/week) receive a stipend of $3,250, plus $750 for travel expenses.
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the fall.
Selected participants in the program will receive:
- A 10-12 week fall internship at the Small Business Administration
- Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $4,000.
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the fall.
Program Eligibility
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- For the fall 2023 term, enrolled as a rising undergraduate senior or in a graduate program at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a 3.0 minimum GPA.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition. May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts. May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good.
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in September 2023.
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- For the fall 2023 term, enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition. May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts. May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good.
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in September 2023.
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- For the fall 2023 term, enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition. May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts. May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good.
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in September 2023.
Fall 2023 Timeline
- April 5, 2023: Applications for the fall 2023 cohort open.
- June 2, 2023: All completed applications must be submitted.
- June – July 2023: Virtual interviews conducted.
- July 2023: Selected fellows will be notified of placement.
- August 2023: Background check process begins.
- August 2023: Virtual orientation.
- September 5, 2023: Internship begins.
- December 2023: Internship ends by December 1st (internships run 10–12 weeks, based on what is agreed upon with each intern’s host office and supervisor).
Staff
Katy Hogan
Senior Manager, Partnership for Public Service
https://ourpublicservice.org/staff/katy-hogan/
