First Vinson Fellows Go to Work
The Vinson Institute welcomed the inaugural class of its undergraduate internship, the Vinson Institute Fellows Program, to start off the UGA fall 2009 semester. Three students, Andrew Laarhoven, Lauren Pinson, and Yasmin Yonis, were selected in May to participate in the program, which seeks to prepare them for careers in public service.
As a cosponsor to the Master of Public Administration program in UGA's School of Public and International Affairs, the Vinson Institute has involved graduate students in its work for many years. The Fellows Program is a way to include undergraduate students as well and give them the opportunity to observe the inner workings state and local government.
The Fellows have each been paired with a faculty-mentor from one of the Institute's divisions and will work closely with him and her on current Institute projects. Over the course of the semester, the students will engage in hands-on learning, perhaps meeting elected and appointed officials, attending training sessions and conferences, or assisting in Vinson Institute research.
Andrew Laarhoven, an economics and political science major from Johns Creek, will work in the Institute's training division with Catherine Bennett.
Lauren Pinson from Watkinsville has dual enrollment in international affairs and the Masters of Public Administration program. Her faculty-mentor is Dr. Wes Clarke in the Institute's research and assistance division.
Yasmin Yonis, an international affairs and journalism major from Lawrence, will work with Dr. Michael Beck and Dr. Njeri Marekia-Cleaveland in the Institute's International Center.
UGA undergraduates interesting in participating in the spring 2010 cohort of the Fellow Program should contact Maggie Holmes at internships@cviog.uga.edu.
