Stanislaus State has entered into an agreement through the Maddy Institute to join with Fresno State, Cal State Bakersfield and the University of California, Merced in developing a greater understanding of public policy and to support the development of student skills in the area of public service.
The announcement came during a press conference held on Friday, Aug. 16 on the Fresno State campus.
“For Stan State, the four-university initiative being introduced today by the Maddy Foundation represents the next logical step in making sure that all of our students have the opportunity to explore the greater social issues of our region through the ability to procure internships and fellowships in public policy and public affairs,” said Stan State President Ellen Junn.
The primary goal of this new alliance is to ensure Valley college students have greater access to legislative internships, as well as to the Institute’s $56,000 Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowships.
It also will enhance opportunities for faculty to collaborate on public policy issues unique to the Valley and share their findings with Valley residents through the Maddy Institute’s various public affairs media platforms.
In addition, this collaboration will provide federal and state officials with a central organization that can provide access to the universities and various media markets throughout the eight-county, 250-mile San Joaquin Valley that is home to more than 2.5 million people.
“We constantly hear from our graduates that they have plans to stay in the region, specifically to combat the concerns they had to confront growing up — whether poverty, immigration problems or issues regarding race, religion or gender identity,” Junn said. “Giving these students access to the mechanism of creating public policy is a grand step toward solving many of the Central Valley’s problems.”
The Maddy Institute was established to engage, prepare and inspire the next generation of government leaders and civil servants. The Institute’s leadership training programs include an extensive government intern program for college students and offer the Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship.
“This unique collaboration marks a major advancement in The Maddy Institute’s ability to better serve the residents of the San Joaquin Valley,” said the Institute’s Executive Director Mark Keppler. “And it does so in an efficient and effective way by enhancing the public policy and public affairs impact by all four campuses on the region.”