Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) alumna Phoebe Henderson ’26, of Rockville, Ind., will soon be on her way to the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, where she will begin the Indiana Governor’s Fellowship Program on July 1.
The Governor’s Fellowship provides a unique experience in Indiana State government. The program is highly selective, recruiting students from across the state to serve in the Governor’s office and various state agencies on a rotating basis for 12 months. Henderson will wrap up the program on June 30, 2027.
“During that time, I will complete four rotations – three in state agencies and one in the Governor’s office,” said Henderson, who majored in criminology and was a member of both the women’s golf team and Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at SMWC. “I’ll be learning about each agency, helping with projects and gaining experience in different areas of state government.”
Fellows participate in the daily activities of the state government, complete special projects, travel to observe how work in the Capitol translates into action throughout the State and experience firsthand how policies are made. Interns spend at least 50% of their time on a predetermined project that enhances college-level skills and abilities. The other 50% of their time is spent in meetings and managing administrative functions within their agency.
“I learned about the Indiana Governor’s Fellowship Program through online articles, news stories, social media pages of people working in the Governor’s office and through my dad,” Henderson said. “I haven’t participated in a fellowship like this before, but I have completed internships in both high school and college at the Parke County and Vermillion County Courthouses in their probation departments. Those experiences helped me gain professional experience and sparked my interest in government work.”
Created in 1989, the program introduces college students to the operations and officials of state government. Interns can work with state agency officials and participate in co-curricular components to enrich their experience.
“Phoebe is a dynamic student with exceptional academic talents and a sense of dedication, responsibility and commitment. Her selection for this opportunity is a result of all of these traits and her ability to stand out among the crowd,” said Louis Reeves, MS, visiting assistant professor of criminology at SMWC. “This opportunity will serve to challenge her and offer great experiences to build her skillset. It will also allow others to collaborate with her and learn from what she brings to the experience.”
While apathy and complacency allow great societies to wither and withdraw, Reeves said getting students engaged in government and civic opportunities actively builds a greater future.
“The opportunity afforded by this type of program engages students in government and shows it as a necessary function of our society, and shows them they have a place in it,” Reeves said. “Students should always be encouraged to seek out these opportunities regardless of partisan affiliations or ideals. It is apathy, not one partisan ideal or another, that is most destructive to our society.”
The Governor’s Fellowship Program is open to college graduates who earn their bachelor’s or associate degrees in either summer or fall 2025 or spring 2026. Applicants submitted an application, along with a current official college transcript or detailed work experience, an essay, three to five letters of recommendation and a resume.
The Governor’s steering committee conducted an initial review of the applications, and the most qualified candidates were selected to interview with the committee at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. After the interviews, the committee forwarded its recommendations to the Governor based on leadership skills, academic record/qualifications, references, essay quality and overall interest in State government. The Governor then made the final selection of Governor’s Fellows.
Governor’s Fellows receive a competitive salary, plus full fringe benefits during the Fellowship year.
“This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in government and learn more about different career paths,” Henderson said. “Since the fellowship includes rotations through different agencies, it will help me figure out what areas I enjoy most while also helping me build connections and gain experience that could lead to future job opportunities.”
0 Comments