Sarah Lowry, a Masters of Public Administration student at UNC Charlotte, recently was named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Since 1977, the Presidential Management Fellowship has connected the Nation’s top graduate students with opportunities within the Federal government. This is an extremely competitive selection process; this year with approximately 6,040 applications and 425 applicants selected as finalists.
This is second consecutive year that a UNC Charlotte Graduate Student has become a PMF finalist; Hannah Shore became made the cut in 2017 and now holds a position with Veteran Affairs (VA).
Sarah’s teachers describe her as hard working. As a graduate assistant in the department of Political Science and Public Administration, Sarah is “always willing to jump in, always wanting to learn more with a very strong analytical, reflective, can do attitude,” said Dr. Thomas Barth, MPA Director, Department of Political Science and Public Administration.
“My time in higher education and in the MPA program at UNC Charlotte prepared me not only by helping me develop skills, but by introducing opportunities,” Sarah said. “Before starting this graduate program, I had no idea that the PMF program was even an option, and I certainly didn’t feel as though I had the knowledge to apply. The network of people in my program helped me learn about this opportunity, and the education I have received in classes and through hands-on learning opportunities such as internships helped provide me with the knowledge, skills, and ability to participate in something like this.”
As a PMF finalist, Sarah will have an opportunity to interview for jobs in a variety of Federal government departments in Washington, D.C. and nationwide. If placed, Sarah will remain for two years for extensive training and development, with the possibility of full-time employment following the conclusion of the fellowship.
To apply, search USAJOBS.gov for Presidential Management Fellows and check for the application window. Application requires a resume and online assessments, including critical thinking, writing, situational judgement, and life experiences.