Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: May 28, 2021
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Alenaa Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Announces 2021 Governor’s Fellows Program Participants

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced today the 2021 Governor’s Fellows Program participants. Former Governor Chuck Robb established the program in 1982, giving rising college seniors, graduating seniors, and graduate students an opportunity to gain firsthand experience working under Cabinet secretaries and alongside staff in the Office of the Governor.

For the first time in the program’s history, all Fellows will receive a stipend of $3,600. This is the result of Governor Northam’s commitment to remove barriers to opportunity and an historic investment into the program through his proposed budgets over the last two years.

“We are thrilled to welcome this new class of Fellows to the Governor’s Office and the unique perspectives, energy, and experiences that each one of them brings to our Administration,” said Governor Northam. “Our Commonwealth is fortunate to have these talented young Virginians serving in state government and I look forward to their contributions as we continue working to build a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive Virginia.”

Each Fellow is placed in a division of the Office of the Governor for the duration of the summer. Through a variety of projects, Fellows will sharpen their leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of the work and decision-making at the highest level of Virginia’s executive branch. The Fellows also learn from special guest speakers from the Northam Administration and take field trips across the Commonwealth.

The Governor’s Fellows Program is open to students at Virginia colleges and universities as well as Virginia residents studying outside of the Commonwealth.

Below is a list of the 2021 Governor’s Fellows Program participants:

  • Abby Admete, University of Richmond
  • Dymon Bailey, George Mason University
  • Emily Baker, James Madison University
  • Whitney Brown, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Kameron Clarke, Virginia Wesleyan University
  • Nadiah Cooper, William & Mary
  • Dominique Dowling, George Mason University
  • Jordan Frijas, Virginia Tech
  • Ja’Neese Jefferson, Virginia State University
  • Michael Jerakis, William & Mary
  • Maya Link, University of Virginia
  • Javion Peterson, Longwood University
  • Alexandra Pillion, Virginia Tech
  • Grace Poreda, William & Mary
  • Alicia Pullen, Old Dominion University
  • Mary Olivia Rentner, William & Mary
  • Jose Daniel Rico, Virginia Tech
  • Randall Joseph Riffle, William & Mary
  • Ashley Scott, Princeton University
  • Da’Quan Saunders-McNear, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dawann Steagall, Jr., Old Dominion University
  • Nathan Tatum, University of Richmond
  • Megan Weeks, University of Mary Washington
  • Tucker Wayne, Christopher Newport University
  • Omer Yousuf, George Mason University

Additional information about the Governor’s Fellows Program is available here.

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