Partnership gives 麻豆代天府students paths to public service careers

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 6, 2024

麻豆代天府 is teaming with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in public service.

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麻豆代天府is beginning a three-year partnership with the HHS鈥 Pathways to Public Service program, which will help students obtain paid internships and entry-level positions with federal government agencies. Resources such as career fairs, workshops, coaching, and mentorships will boost students鈥 professional development and educate them on the federal hiring process and the Department of Health and Human Services鈥 mission.

鈥溌槎勾旄甶s excited to be in partnership with the Pathways to Public Service program,鈥 said Tom Vecchione, executive director of KSU鈥檚 Department of Career Planning and Development. 鈥淭his important collaboration will support sustainable, productive, and diverse opportunities for KSU students to engage in internships and entry-level positions directly relevant to their chosen career goals.鈥

Those internship opportunities align with Kennesaw State鈥檚 longstanding commitment to experiential education and service learning. Pathways to Public Service students who complete an internship and meet all the necessary requirements become eligible for permanent employment within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services鈥 partnering agencies.

The stated goal of Pathways to Public Service is to 鈥渄evelop the next generation of public servants, fostering advances in medicine, public health and social services.鈥 Students are provided resources including quarterly virtual career fairs where they connect with participating federal agencies and consider possible careers based on their majors and employment workshops on how to create a USA Jobs account, draft a federal resume, and interview for positions.

鈥淥ne of the target goals of the Pathways to Public Service program is to increase the number of students in the federal applicant pool who currently attend universities with higher minority student populations,鈥 said Pathways to Public Service program manager Mose Harris. 鈥淲e are building lasting and sustainable partnerships with universities nationwide to achieve that, and we are proud to have KSU as a lasting partner.鈥

The Pathways to Public Service program has hired more than 100 students for internships since its inception in 2019, according to HHS. Participating students engage with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 麻豆代天府 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. 麻豆代天府is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 麻豆代天府is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.