“In your generation you have a clearer sense of your purpose. So put that at the center of your design and then look at all the different components of the ecosystem,” Jonathan McBride.
On June 17, we hosted a conversation on presidential transitions and getting young people involved in the federal government with The Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition and the Institutes of Politics at Harvard University and University of Chicago.
Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition moderated a panel between Josh Bolten, former White House chief of staff to President George W. Bush and Jonathan McBride, former director of presidential personnel to President Obama.
The panelists reflected on their early years in government and encouraged students to get in the door regardless of the position. The two told stories of the transition between the Bush and Obama administrations, their journeys between the public and private sector and advised students to stay connected to one another as their careers grow.
Following the panel, Michelle Amante, vice president of Federal Workforce Programs, underscored the dearth of young professionals in the federal workforce and offered students tips for carving their path in the public sector.
We’d like to thank everyone for a fantastic first event at the new Capitol Campus! We were delighted to see students building community across campuses through a shared interest in public service.
