New Johns Hopkins program places students in university administration fellowships

Johns Hopkins University is launching a new program to turn its bright, high-achieving students into dedicated staff members whose talents will support the university mission and who will make their homes and launch their careers in Baltimore.

The new Presidential Management Fellowship Program will invite a small cohort of recent JHU graduates to work for the university for one year, starting in July 2020. For the first year of the program, all the fellows will work full time with a salary and benefits in University Administration departments. As a group, they will have a number of opportunities for professional development training, meetings with university leadership, and mentoring. At the end of the program, departments may hire the fellows for permanent positions.

"We have students of exceptional talent and dedication. We would love to see them share that talent and commitment with our institution and our city by putting down roots right here," JHU President Ronald J. Daniels says. "This program will help set the fellows on the course to a successful future and enhance the excellent staff that supports our academic, research, and service mission."

Individuals from undergraduate or graduate programs who completed their degrees in 2019 or will complete them by spring 2020 are encouraged to apply. More information is available on the Student Affairs website.

Staff members will be available to discuss the program at the Fall Career Fair, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, in the O'Connor Recreation Center on the university's Homewood campus.

"I fundamentally believe that immersive experiences and mentoring are the essential ingredients for students and graduates to pave the way to a successful life and career," says Farouk Dey, vice provost for integrative learning and life design. "The Presidential Fellows opportunity was built to offer both in a meaningful way while strengthening the bond between our graduates, the institution, and the Baltimore community. The timing of this opportunity couldn't be better as we launch a new approach of integrative learning and life design at Johns Hopkins University."

Meghan Stark, senior director of financial strategy in the university's Office of Planning and Budget, took part in a similar program at Harvard University after she earned her master's degree there. After completing the University Management Fellowship Program in 2006, she was recruited into a permanent position and spent five years working in various roles within Harvard's central finance function.

"The program at Harvard was very similar in structure and eligibility to the JHU Presidential Fellows Program and was created with the goal of attracting top talent to university administration," Stark says. "It really opened up a new world to me in terms of career paths and provided the opportunity to learn firsthand from university leaders."

She added: "It was a joy to be a part of a small cohort of high-achieving, dedicated, and thoughtful colleagues from a diverse set of backgrounds and Harvard degree programs. I'm very excited to help launch a similar program here at JHU for our amazing graduates."