Three students with College ties named Florida Gubernatorial Fellows
Six current University of Florida students or recent alumni have been chosen for the seventh class of the Gubernatorial Fellowship Program in Florida. Three of the UF students have ties to the UF College of Journalism and Communications.
They include:
- Heather Houston, 26, of Howey-in-the-Hills, is currently a graduate student in mass communications, specializing in political communication. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from UF in 2007.
- James VanLandingham, 28, of Tallahassee, earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from UF in 2005 and a master’s degree in public administration from FSU. He is currently a second-year law student at Florida State University.
- Marcus L. Dixon, 22, of Miami, earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science from UF in 2011. He is currently a graduate student in public administration at Florida State University.
Other UF students include Matthew Christ, 21, of Santa Rosa Beach, senior in political science; Clarence “Hal” Houston, 27, of Jacksonville, a third-year law student who also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UF; and Kristin Klein, 24, of Gainesville, senior in political science and food and resource economics.
Students participating in the program will gain first-hand experience into how state government operates.
Students were selected based on a competitive application process and their ability to show strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism and a desire to serve the people of Florida. They will work in the executive office of the governor or in the governor’s agencies, depending on their area of study. Fellows will be expected to work a minimum of 20 hours each week and will receive an hourly wage for their time on the job.
To broaden their exposure to state government and enhance their experience, they will also meet weekly as a group to participate in educational activities such as presentations, press conferences, budget briefings and policy briefings.
The Gators are among 13 students selected as the seventh Gubernatorial Fellows class.
Posted: August 18, 2011
Category: College News
