Five Florida State University students have been selected by Governor Jeb Bush as 2005 Gubernatorial Fellows. With just 13 students tapped from the state’s colleges and universities, FSU has more Gubernatorial Fellows than any other institution of higher education in what is known as the state’s most prestigious program for leadership in public service.
FSU Fellows include:
- Eric Bradstreet, 27, of Jacksonville, a law student. Eric holds a B.S. in history from Jacksonville University.
- Michelle Dahnke, 21, of Davie, an undergraduate majoring in communications and public relations.
- Austin Green, 24, of Tallahassee, a graduate student in the applied politics master’s program. Austin holds a B.S. in economics from FSU.
- Lara Jakobsons, 27, of Tallahassee, a graduate student in clinical psychology. Lara holds a B.A. in psychology from Georgetown University.
- Sara Turner, 27, of St. Petersburg, a graduate student in art education and museum studies. Sara holds a B.A. in art from the University of Miami.
Established in 2004, the Gubernatorial Fellows Program immerses students in key areas of government, including the Executive Office of the Governor and the governor’s agencies, giving future leaders first-hand, high-level, on-the- job training as well as valuable experience and insight into government and how it works.
According to Bush, "In today’s world, public service is often overlooked for the great opportunities and challenges it can present to young people looking for careers where they may make a difference in the everyday lives of fellow citizens. This program affords Florida’s best and brightest a unique opportunity to discover this important, demanding and rewarding world."
Fellows’ expertise is matched with projects to maximize the experience for the Fellow and the contributions they will make to state government.
Fellows work a minimum of 20 hours per week and are paid for their work. All Fellows also participate in a weekly lecture series with government officials including the Governor, Members of the Florida Cabinet, and senior staff members. Gubernatorial Fellows are treated as high-level staff and are expected to participate and perform at that level.
Successful candidates for the highly competitive program have demonstrated strong leadership skills, outstanding academic achievement, community and university activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida.