Robertson Report: Inaugural RFG cross-fellowship network event, upcoming RFG 10th anniversary, and 2020 career preview

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Quarter 4 • December 2019

Inaugural RFG cross-fellowship networking gathering

On December 17, RFG sponsored its inaugural cross-fellowship networking event in San Francisco, in collaboration with ProFellow and its International Fellows Network. The gathering brought together alumni Robertson Fellows with alumni and current fellows from a range of programs focused on public service and international relations. They included the White House Fellowships, FUSE Corps Executive Fellowships, Capital Fellowships, San Francisco Fellowships, Coro Fellows in Public Affairs, Fulbright Fellowships, Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship, Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowships, and Public Policy and International Affairs Fellows.

Alumni Robertson Fellows who attended were:

Christopher Grant (Maxwell, Class of 2012)
Senior Economic Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Samuel Huang (UCSD GPS, Class of 2018)
Analyst, Government Accountability Office, San Francisco

Amy Truong Donhauser (Fletcher, Class of 2011)
Humanitarian and Development Professional, Global Programs Consultant, We Care Solar

Taylor Tielke (UCSD GPS, Class of 2019)
Immigration Service Officer, US Customs & Immigration Service

Eli Yani (UCSD GPS, Class of 2014)
Crisis Management Program Manager, Facebook

Edith Yuh (UCSD GPS, Class of 2016)
Science and Technology Analyst, Government Accountability Office, San Francisco

We also plan to hold more multi-fellowship gatherings around the country in the future.

Six programs participate in multi-fellowship Congressional Insight simulation

RFG also held its first multi-fellowship professional development program, a Congressional Insight simulation, on December 11 in Washington, D.C. The lively gathering attracted attendees from the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership, Partnership for Public Service, Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations, Young Government Leaders, and several government agencies in addition to RFG Fellows and alumni.

The interactive simulation was designed to immerse participants in the real world of a federal legislator to experience the highly political, uncompromising environment in which legislators and their staff must operate. It provided a view of the realities of the multiple factors that affect legislators and their actions, which in turn affect the executive branch charged with executing and enforcing federal law.

RFG will be running the simulation again in 2020, and is open to providing the activity for use by other organizations. For more information contact Cynthia Robinson.

RFG to celebrate 10th anniversary in 2020

As 2019 comes to a close, we look forward to celebrating the Robertson Foundation for Government’s 10th anniversary in 2020, as the 10th class of fellows graduates next spring.

Over the next twelve months we will be sharing news about accomplishments in the foundation’s first ten years of operation, and new initiatives that will launch in our second decade. The RFG board of directors, staff and advisers look forward to celebrating this important organizational milestone with our extended network.

RFG will host a cross-fellowship New Year networking event in Washington, D.C., on January 30 as our first event celebrating the foundation's anniversary (see below for more).

We are already embracing more future public service leaders with the launch of the 11th class of Robertson Fellows, who will complete their degrees in 2021. The 10th and 11th classes gathered at the annual Fellows’ Weekend event in October and participated in professional development and career networking activities to support their federal service aims. The induction of the newest class brings the total number of RFG fellows and alumni to 170.

Developing public leaders with a global mindset

RFG sponsored an internationally themed session at the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) 2019 Fall Meeting, "Improving the Development of Public Administrators for Global Work in the 21st Century.” The panel focused on the challenges and opportunities to develop aptitudes and skills of public administrators and government leaders for work in a global context.

Tribute to Paul A. Volcker

RFG pays tribute to Mr. Paul A. Volcker, founder of the Volcker Alliance, an RFG organizational partner, who passed away on December 8, 2019. Mr. Volcker was a lifelong dedicated public servant who set forth a vision of a public sector workforce with the experience, preparation, and commitment to ensure that government is accountable and delivers with excellence. His legacy inspires the work of the Volcker Alliance every day and also invigorates the efforts of the Robertson Foundation for Government.

NAPA unveils final list of Grand Challenges in Public Administration

After a year of gathering and analyzing input on the major issues facing the United States, the National Academy of Public Administration, an institutional partner of RFG, unveiled its final list of 12 Grand Challenges in Public Administration. They fall within four major focus areas: Protecting and Advancing Democracy; Strengthening Social and Economic Development; Ensuring Environmental Sustainability; and Managing Technological Changes.

Learn more

Robertson Fellows connect with new school and alumni at UCSD GPS

At UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy, Robertson Fellows met with Dean Peter Cowhey to kick off the school year and learn about GPS’s partnership with RFG. Left to right in the photo above: Vy Nguyen (Class of 2020), Lily Folkerts (Class of 2021), Topher Taylor (Class of 2021), Lincoln Berget (Class of 2021), Dean Peter Cowhey, Cory Rogers (Class of 2020), Eric Inumerable (Class of 2020) and Meghan Scott (Class of 2020).

In addition, alumni Samuel Huang (Class of 2019) and Adriel Taslim (Class of 2018) were in town and met with first year students for lunch.

At the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy, new Class of 2021 students Justin Horoiwa, Nicole Franiok, Holly Gregory and Kevin Laiveling attended their annual meeting.

Please take a moment to get a photo of any planned or chance meetings with other Robertson Fellows and alumni and email Communications Manager Lauren Hertel. Thanks!

University of Maryland School of Public Policy breaks ground on new school building and launches new website

The University of Maryland broke ground on a new School of Public Policy building in October, with RFG President Cynthia Robinson in attendance. The 70,000 square-foot academic building is designed for the critical exploration of the world’s most pressing issues and will bring together — for the first time in one facility— the school’s five research and policy impact centers and institutes: the Center for Global Sustainability, the Center for International & Security Studies at Maryland, the Center for Public Policy & Private Enterprise, the National Center for Smart Growth, and the Do Good Institute. The School of Public Policy building is expected to open in 2022.

In addition, at the start of the fall semester, the SPP launched a new website that highlights the university and school priorities.

Alumni Corner

Andrew Reighart (UMD SPP, Class of 2015) received two Office of Atmospheric Programs awards in December: an Outstanding Team Award for work on improving organizational health, and a Collaboration Award for working across the agency on diversity and inclusion efforts. He says he is very grateful for awesome co-workers and a management team that recognizes their dedication to the EPA.

Nicholas Cicchinelli (Fletcher, Class of 2020) was one of the organizers of the fifth Conference on Gender and International Affairs at The Fletcher School, the theme of which was "Engendering Change: A Rally for Action." Visit the conference website

The Alumni Council held a holiday brunch for fellows and alumni on December 14 at CIRCA at Chinatown in Washington, DC. There were 32 fellows and friends who came together to share a meal and the spirit of the season, and they spread some holiday cheer through donations for Toys for Tots. Fellows spanning almost all 11 eleven classes participated. If any of you have photos from the event, we would love to have them for our files.

We invite current fellows and alumni to submit links to their published writings, mentions of their work in the media, promotions and more for inclusion on our website and our quarterly newsletter. Please email Communications Manager Lauren Hertel with links.

2020 promises both hope and challenge for federal employees

Dr. Michael Schneider, RFG Fellows' Career Adviser and director of the Maxwell School of Syracuse University's Washington Public Diplomacy Program, has compiled an overview of important career resources from 2019 and trends for 2020 for our fellows and alumni including the following topics:

PMF application process
Drop in FSO applications
Family Leave Provisions' far-reaching potential
Reform of application resume for federal jobs
The Modern Employment Reform, Improvement and Transformation (MERIT) Act
2019 report on best places to work in the USG
A new look at the GAO report on issues and trends affecting federal employment
PPS report comparing federal government and private sector employment
Inaugural inductees into the U.S. Government Hall of Fame

Read Dr. Schneider's overview

2019 Sammies winners and call for 2020 nominations

The 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) winners were celebrated in October, and a segment on "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" highlighted their remarkable accomplishments and praised federal employees for all they do to keep our government running. If you haven’t already, we highly recommend you watch the clip.

The Sammies are accepting 2020 nominations through Friday, January 17, 2020. If you know a federal employee who demonstrates innovation, strong leadership and a passion for public service in their work, consider nominating them for a Service to America Medal. RFG is a proud supporter of the Sammies and the hard work they recognize.

Resources

Daybook.com — The leading job search resource for political, policy and nonprofit professionals

Five lessons learned from federal innovators at the Federal Innovation Summit (Partnership for Public Service)

Risk and Reward: A Framework for Federal Innovation (Partnership for Public Service)

Preparing the Next Generation of Federal Leaders: Agency-Based Leadership Development Programs (IBM Center for The Business of Government)

Events

January 9, 2020
Imperatives for Redefining Principles of International Trade Policy
DACOR Bacon House
6:30 p.m.
More information and register

January 10, 2020
Engagement and Storytelling in Nonproliferation Diplomacy
DACOR Bacon House
12 p.m.
More information and register

January 22, 2020
Cybersecurity: Building Resiliency is the Way Forward
Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton
8:30 a.m.
More information and RSVP

January 23, 2020
Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service
National Academy of Public Administration
5:30 p.m.
RSVP

January 29, 2020
The State of the Foreign Service and Its Future
DACOR Bacon House
12 p.m.
More information and register

January 30, 2020
RFG Cross-fellowship New Year Networking Event
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC
5:30 p.m.
Save the date, RSVP details to follow!

February 27, 2020
YouAI: Propelling Insights and Actions Through Artificial Intelligence
Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton
8:30 a.m.
More information and RSVP

April 7, 2020
Identifying Innovative Acquisitions to Capture Exponential Value
Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton
8:30 a.m.
More information and RSVP

Robertson Foundation for Government
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Washington, DC 20006
202-289-7700 / info@rfg.org / www.rfg.org