Two current Virginia Tech graduate students and a recent alumnus are semifinalists for Presidential Management Fellowships. 

The two current graduate students are Stephen Courtland “Cory” Brozina, a doctoral student studying engineering education, and Raelena Kae Kniff, a master's degree student in the public administration and public affairs program in the National Capital Region. 

Maria-Richetta Camille Harris, the recent graduate, completed her Ph.D. in biology this summer.

The three were among 7,800 applicants for the program, referred to on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management as “a flagship leadership development program” for graduate students. The focus of the program is to develop "a cadre of potential government leaders,” according to the website.

Brozina, Harris, and Kniff will be invited to participate in on-line discussions and in-person assessments as the fellowship selection process moves toward the finalist stage. Finalists then are eligible for placement as fellows with participating agencies. 

The Office of Personnel Management will notify finalists in spring 2015.

The Graduate School at Virginia Tech is responsible for the development, administration, and evaluation of graduate education throughout the university. The Graduate School currently offers more than 150 master's degree and doctoral programs for approximately 7,000 students at multiple locations throughout Virginia and through partnerships with national and international universities. The Transformative Graduate Education program provides professional development opportunities that augment disciplinary training to help graduates assume roles within higher education or as career professionals. The Graduate Life Center at Donaldson-Brown focuses on building a inclusive and diverse graduate community.

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