Latreece Walker, currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at AAMU, has been chosen to participate in the highly esteemed Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF). Established in a 1977 executive order by President Jimmy Carter, The PMF Program is a way the government competes with the private sector to get the best-of-the- best master’s and Ph.D. students into federal jobs at a high level.
Of the 10,000 plus applicants, only 825 were selected as finalists, with only two students selected from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a testament to Walker’s exceptional qualifications.
“I was selected through a rigorous process that included an assessment and interviews,” says Walker. “It is indeed a blessing!”
The mission of the
PMF Program remains the same: to recruit and develop a cadre of future government leaders from all segments of society. Program fellows start at the GS-9 salary level with the potential to be hired at a higher rate based on experience. Walker says it not only creates a lasting bond among fellows and alumni and instills a spirit of public service, it’s also an opportunity to grow professionally.
“This is a two-year fellowship at a federal agency of the finalist’s choosing,” says Walker. “After completing the fellowship and graduating from the program, it can become a permanent position. I have not chosen an agency yet, but I have eyes on some positions with the CDC in Atlanta,” she says. “After I graduate, I plan to take my LMSW licensure exam and go where the social work field takes me!”