Fourteen outstanding students from the Andrew Young School (AYS), J. Mack Robinson College of Business (RCB) and College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) pursued educational and employment opportunities in Washington, D.C., in early October as part of one of three Georgia State University immersion programs.
The annual Panthers in the District program introduces students to the various avenues for internships and jobs in Washington. Many participants have subsequently accepted offers from leading companies in the U.S. and across the globe.
“The program provides students the opportunity to experience the D.C. environment and learn about a great variety of career opportunities, not just in government, but in related jobs within the corporate and nonprofit sectors,” said AYS Senior Research Associate Laura Wheeler. “These students, like our first group, asked excellent questions and were great representatives for Georgia State University.”
Wheeler works with Sharry Conroy, associate director of Robinson’s Career Advancement Center and program leader for the Panthers Immersion Programs, to select, prepare and escort students in the program. Other AYS team members are Colleen Perry, director of the Office of Career Services & Student Life, and Clinical Associate Professor Jim Martin of the Department of Public Management & Policy.
This year’s group met with representatives from a wide variety of employers like the Congressional Research Service and Office of Management and Budget (OMB); private sector companies such as BlackRock, EY and Accenture; nonprofit organizations and quasi-government organizations like the Pew Foundation and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and senior staff for members of Georgia’s congressional delegation.
“I am currently exploring careers in the federal government,” said Keith Jacobi, a Master of Public Administration candidate. “This trip provided a unique opportunity to gain insights from people at various career levels. Otherwise, I would not have been able to meet Capitol Hill staffers and other impressive people at organizations like the OMB, Pew Foundation and EY.
“These meetings were informative, inspiring, and expanded my knowledge of opportunities and career paths in D.C. The trip increased my desire to work in Washington,” he said.
Panthers in the District is a joint partnership of the Andrew Young School and Robinson College of Business. Designed for students pursuing a consulting, finance, policy or public administration career, it is one of several Georgia State University immersion programs designed to give students experiential opportunities to accelerate their professional development and boost their career potential.
Students in the immersion programs are selected through a two-month application period. They participate in several months of teambuilding and professional development sessions that culminate in a four-day business trip to New York, Washington, D.C., or California, depending on the student’s career track.
A unique aspect of the program is that each student “pays it forward” once they graduate by contributing a commitment fee to help seed the next year’s cohort. Students are afforded this opportunity through the generosity of alumni, family members and contributions through the corporate community.
“Partnering across the university to include all colleges is an important feature that adds to the overall value of Panthers Immersion Programs,” said Conroy. “Together, we are stronger by cross-pollinating the experience with disciplines and perspectives from among our colleges.”
