Undergraduate Programs

Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program

The Gubernatorial Fellows Program provides Florida university students with firsthand, high-level experience and insight into how government operates. The program, established in 2004 and endowed by Al and Dawn Hoffman in 2005, gives college and university students around the state the unique opportunity to spend a semester working alongside the state government's top staff.

The program is designed to provide students who are interested in public service with the opportunity to gain experience and exposure by working in key areas of government. Gubernatorial Fellows are assigned to the Executive Office of the Governor or the Governor's agencies, based on their major or area of concentration. Fellows will be expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week and will be paid for their time on the job. Fellows must also meet weekly as a group to participate in a lecture series as well as additional government activities such as press conferences, budget briefings and policy briefings. Fellows will also be given the opportunity to participate in policy study trips throughout Florida and in Washington, D.C. These additional commitments are designed to broaden the Fellows' exposure to state government and enhance the experience of all participants.

In addition to the time Fellows spend at their respective agencies, they also meet once a week as a group to discuss their experiences with classmates. During these meetings, they meet face-to-face with prominent leaders, Cabinet officers, agency heads and top government officials.

To be eligible for a Gubernatorial Fellowship, candidates should be enrolled at a Florida college or university as an upperclassman (junior or senior) or a graduate student. Approximately 12 students from around the state will be selected based on a competitive application process. The Fellowship year will follow the university calendar, starting in August and ending in May.

Applicants should possess strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida.