Vote in the nation's service

Today's midterm elections bring into high relief the urgent policy challenges facing America, and indeed, the pressing need for strong and principled leadership in the federal government. But in addition to the ballot box, University undergraduates have a new means by which they can influence American public life.

Now through Dec. 15, the Wilson School is accepting applications from University juniors for the Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative. Modeled after the Rhodes and Marshall Scholars programs and reflecting the stark reality that over 40 percent of all federal employees will be eligible for retirement by 2010, the highly selective Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative is designed to encourage more of the nation's top students to pursue careers in the U.S. federal government, especially in the area of international affairs.

So how does it work? Starting this year, the Wilson School will select the first five Scholars in the Nation's Service, who will be drawn from all Princeton juniors who apply — not just Wilson School majors. Those selected will spend their final two years at Princeton completing their majors, taking selected courses in public policy, learning about career opportunities in the federal government and spending the summer after their junior year in a federal government internship. (Special accommodations will be made for those who must do lab work or thesis research to fulfill their departmental requirements.)

After graduation, the recipients will serve for two years in the federal government paid either with a government salary or, if necessary, a stipend from the University. The Scholars are then guaranteed enrollment in the two-year Master in Public Affairs (MPA) degree program at the Wilson School.

Of course, some undergraduates who want to have impact on policy and do good in the world may consider working for a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization. Yet as Hurricane Katrina unfortunately proved, nonprofits and NGOs are simply not enough when a national crisis occurs. We need competent, smart, effective people in government to tackle and respond to the nation's most serious problems.

As the deadline for applications approaches, we're particularly interested in undergraduates who are combining their interest in public policy with studies in natural science or engineering or students with skills in "difficult" languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Japanese, Russian, Urdu, etc.

What kind of substantive government jobs are out there for these kinds of undergraduates who go on to earn a Wilson School MPA? A sampling of recent grads is instructive. Cara Abercrombie MPA '03 is Country Director for India at the U.S. Department of Defense; Joshua DuBois MPA '05 is a staff member for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama; Eileen Burke, MPA '05 is a program officer at the Millennium Challenge Corporation; Richard Johnson, MPA '06 is a foreign affairs officer in the Office of Korean Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and Sarah Meginness-Froman MPA '05 is working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an Environmental Protection Specialist. Clearly, exciting and varied opportunities abound.

Are you passionate about stopping the spread of global pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, curbing global warming, protecting the country against terrorism, promoting democracy around the world, helping to resolve conflict and bring peace or rebuilding the social and economic infrastructure of our country? The federal government is responsible for and best poised to respond to these and other serious policy problems, and as such, it needs effective and forward-thinking leaders. The Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative can be your way to put your passion to work.

At our first information session about the Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative we hosted on Oct. 16, President Tilghman noted that this program was created in the face of the country's pressing need "to inspire the nation's best and brightest" here on campus to enter public service, particularly government service, "because we believe it is one of the most important callings a Princeton graduate could respond to."

Here at the Wilson School — named for the University president who coined the phrase "Princeton In the Nation's Service" — we seek to educate the leaders who will shape the public policies of the future, at the highest levels of government. We encourage you to explore the Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative as an academic and professional endeavor. On this Election Day, think about how you will serve. Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 is the dean of the Wilson School. She can be reached at slaughtr@princeton.edu.