The Presidential Management Fellows program is a highly competitive program that began in 1977 as a way for the federal government to train new leaders. It awards fellows with paid positions with benefits in the federal agency of their choice.
The effort is worth it: Many fellows wind up being hired, so, naturally, thousands of applicants from around the country complete the arduous application process and hope for the best.
This year, three students at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University were named finalists, including Master’s in Public Administration graduate (’16) Jacob Simmons, Master’s in Public Policy graduate Maureen Limon (’18), and International Commerce and Policy ’18 graduate Sam Farnoushfar, who has been busy this spring applying to law schools.
Farnoushfar’s interest in international business, economics, and policy, along with his master’s program concentration in Global Finance, Investment, and Trade, make his top PMF choices the International Trade Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
And then there’s law.
“Ultimately, I’d like to practice law,” he said. “I’m currently in the process of wrapping up my application to [George Mason University’s] Scalia Law School’s part-time program, which I hope to do throughout the duration of my PMF appointment.”
Farnoushfar seems to have things figured out: “My two main areas of interest are international trade and financial regulation. I’m hoping to build off of the experience I gain as a PMF to eventually transition to a counsel position within the government under the Senior Executive Service, or to jump to the private sector to practice law relating to either international trade or corporate securities compliance.”