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Three Mount Students Selected as Public Service Scholars Program Fellows

Emmitsburg, MD (07/26/2017) — Mount St. Mary's University students Alexandra Johnson, C'18, Kyle Maxey, C'18, and Erin Winkelmeyer, C'18, were selected for the Public Service Scholars program, which is coordinated by the Shriver Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County for the state of Maryland. This program is comprised of the Governor's Summer Internship program, the Walter Sondheim Jr. Maryland Nonprofit Leadership program, and the Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows program, where students have an opportunity to gain valuable experience in Maryland's public and social sectors.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for students to build skills and to network in a field of interest outside of the classroom," said Clare Tauriello, director of the career center at Mount St. Mary's University. "Kyle, Alexandra and Erin are outstanding examples of talented Mount students and we're excited about how this experience could help launch their careers."

Applicants must be either a rising junior or senior, attending a Maryland institution or be a Maryland resident, and hold a minimum GPA of 2.7. For the Walter Sondheim Jr. Maryland Nonprofit Leadership program, graduate students are eligible as well. A total of 21 different institutions are represented among these programs, including Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Alexandra Johnson, C'18 - Williamstown, New Jersey - Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program

Through the Walter Sondheim Jr. Maryland Nonprofit Leadership program, Johnson, a native of Williamstown, New Jersey, is working at the South Baltimore Learning Center. This 10-week, four-day-per-week program offers the rising senior and other fellows the opportunity to learn about nonprofit management from a senior-level professional, and through seminars, meetings, field trips and networking opportunities. Working in groups, the fellows use their newfound skills and knowledge to identify a problem facing Maryland nonprofits, and try to solve that problem through research and innovation.

Johnson applied for the Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program because she was looking for an internship opportunity that would launch her career in the nonprofit sector. "I wanted to challenge myself, expand my professional network, and do what I love: work with organizations that create change in their communities," said Johnson. "The Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program was the perfect opportunity to develop my leadership skills and explore my future career options in the nonprofit sector."

After the Mount, she hopes to work for a nonprofit or international NGO that focuses on education as well. "My long-term career goal is to work in higher education," explained Johnson. "I hope to one day obtain my master's and doctoral degrees and pursue a career as a university provost or president."

Kyle Maxey, C'18 - Davidsonville, Maryland - Governor's Summer Internship Program

During this 10-week program with the Maryland governor's office, Maxey, from Davidsonville, Maryland, and other fellows work full-time, four days a week, learning from a senior-level professional, and attend meetings, field trips and seminars that will help further their understanding of the functions of state government and policy making. Additionally, fellows will track legislation, assist with constituent casework, and work together to research and prepare policy analysis that they will ultimately recommend to the governor.

Maxey heard about the program through the Mount's career center and chose to apply because of its rich history. It was also a great fit as his long-term career goal is to become a United States Senator. "Having the opportunity to work in downtown Annapolis, the hub of government in the state of Maryland, allows me to see first-hand how state government works," said Maxey. "I am also able to build up my network, which combined with a deeper understanding of state government, will serve me well in furthering my career goals…Once I looked into the program, I knew right away that it was the place I wanted to be."

Erin Winkelmeyer, C'18 - Pasadena, Maryland - Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows Program

Winkelmeyer, a Pasadena, Maryland native, is working full time for eight weeks at the Maryland Transportation Authority through the Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows program. She and other fellows are introduced to the challenges that transportation management presents, along with the rewards a career in the field could bring. Working under a senior-level professional, the fellows learn about policy development, marketing and public relations, engineering, planning and financing, and other aspects of the profession. Additionally, they research a transportation related challenge and propose a solution based on their gained knowledge and experience.

Working under the Office of Environment, Safety, and Risk Management, the rising senior is understanding how the focus of the department is to make sure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day, something she fully believes in. "Most people don't realize how critical transportation in Maryland is," said Winkelmeyer, citing her interest in the different areas the sector is involved with and exploring the opportunities each could offer. "I was actually very surprised with all of the different aspects that they cover, from hazard wastes around the bridges and tunnels to the safety of elderly drivers to research on finances funded from the state to simply beautifying the toll plazas with flowers, which is my project for the summer."

About Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's University is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland's second largest city. The university offers more than 40 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for traditional undergraduate students, and 17 adult undergraduate and graduate level programs.

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