Federal intern program chooses three graduates

The federal Presidential Management Intern Program has tapped three recent graduates of Mississippi State's political science department.

Harold R. Atkins of Starkville, Jennifer L. Jordan of Meridian, and Andrew Wargo IV of Watson, Ark., all have jobs in the Washington, D.C., area. They are among some 540 master's- and doctoral-degree graduates from throughout the country chosen this year for PMI.

"The Presidential Management Internship is the most prestigious method for recent graduates to enter federal employment," said Douglas Feig, political science department head. "The program is very competitive and appointments are highly sought."

Established by President Carter in 1977 and reconstituted by President Reagan in 1982, the intern program seeks to "attract to the federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in public service careers."

At May 10 commencement, Atkins and Jordan received master's degrees in public policy and administration; Wargo, a master's in political science.

Wargo left in June for his new duties as a program analyst with the Department of the Navy's Trident nuclear submarine project. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Mississippi State. While pursuing his master's, he served as president of the Graduate Student Association and completed an internship in the office of United States Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.).

Atkins began work in July as a budget analyst with the Social Security Administration. He also holds a bachelor's in political science from Mississippi State. As an undergraduate, he was president of Sigma Nu social fraternity and a member of the university's Pre-Law Society.

Jordan went to work in August as a budget analyst, also with the Navy's Trident nuclear submarine project. She is a Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduate who went on to earn a bachelor's in English at the University of West Alabama. While pursuing her advanced degree at Mississippi State, she was a member of Pi Alpha Alpha public administration honor society and a Graduate Student Association representative.