Lauren Marshall | U.S. Forest Service | 202.205.1218 | lemarshall@fs.fed.us

Call for Nominations for the Chief’s Scholars Program

What is the Chief’s Scholars Program? The Chief’s Scholars program is a leadership development program aimed at enhancing diversity within the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service is committed to cultivating a workplace with diversity in gender, culture, ethnicity, and perspectives. Chief’s Scholars will serve as agents of change, and will have the opportunity to contribute to diversity through outreach and recruitment. Scholars’ commitment to cultural transformation will help the agency reach it’s over all diversification goals.

Who is eligible for the Chief’s Scholars Program? To be eligible for the 2012 Chief’s Scholars program, students must be on track to obtain a Masters Degree or PhD in December 2012 or May 2013. Scholars will be hired as paid interns for the summer of 2012 and may be stationed anywhere in the country; after graduation, they will be eligible for non-competitive conversion into full time federal service at a GS-09 with a Masters degree, or at a GS-11 with a PhD. Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply; the Forest Service offers exciting careers in a variety of fields, including but not limited to environmental sciences, renewable energy, natural resources management, forestry, statistics, public health, communications, public affairs, law enforcement, landscape architecture, information technology, public policy, public administration, international affairs, accounting, human resources, finance, engineering, and economics.

What are the benefits of serving as a Chief’s Scholar? During summer 2012, students will gain 640 hours of on-the-job work experience, and will receive 40 hours of leadership development training. Leadership development will be further enhanced by opportunities to work with agency leadership and their fellow Scholars as leaders in the implementation of the Chief’s Scholars program and development of a larger Chief’s Scholars network. Scholars will be supported by an existing network of recent graduates in the form of the award-winning Forest Service Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program.

How do I become a Chief’s Scholar? Chief’s Scholars must be nominated by their graduate university or other approved nominating organization. The nominating organization will screen potential scholars for leadership qualities and send complete nomination packets to the Forest Service for selection as a Chief’s Scholars finalist. In the spring 2012, finalists will be invited to apply for exclusive internships only open to Chief’s Scholars candidates. For more information on the nomination process, please see the document entitled “Chief’s Scholars: A Guide to Nominations”.

Lauren Marshall | U.S. Forest Service | 202.205.1218 | lemarshall@fs.fed.us

Chief’s Scholars: A Guide to Nominations

Who is eligible for the Chief’s Scholars Program? To be eligible for the 2012 Chief’s Scholars program, students must be on track to obtain a Masters Degree or PhD in December 2012 or May 2013. Student’s with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply; the Forest Service offers exciting careers in a variety of fields, including but not limited to environmental sciences, renewable energy, natural resources management, statistics, public health, communications, public affairs, law enforcement, landscape architecture, information technology, public policy, public administration, international affairs, accounting, human resources, finance, engineering, and economics.

How do I nominate students for the Chief’s Scholars Program? Each University or organization should nominate the four top applicants with strength in the following leadership skills: adaptability, integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation to serve, oral and written communication, and problem solving. A complete nomination packet should include the nomination form (see page 2 of this document) along with a resume, graduate school transcript, a recommendation from an employer, professor, or equivalent addressing both leadership skills and the nominee’s knowledge of his or her major field of study, and a two-page essay describing why the candidate is interested in public service and how they have demonstrated a commitment to cultivating diversity in the workplace (see nomination form for essay prompt). All materials should be sent to Lauren Marshall, lemarshall@fs.fed.us, by no later than December 1, 2011. Nomination Timeline:

How will finalists be selected for the Chief’s Scholars Program? The Forest Service will review complete nomination packets and select finalists based on the skills outlined above (adaptability, integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation to serve, oral and written communication, and problem solving). Finalists will be announced by January 15, 2012.

How will finalists be matched with Chief’s Scholar positions? In January and February, 2012, finalists will begin receiving emails describing Chief’s Scholars positions at various Forest Service locations around the country. Scholars will then communicate directly with hiring managers to set up interviews. Hiring managers will select finalists for each position by no later than February 15, 2012.

Schools asked for Nominations: September 20

Nomination Packets Due from Schools:

December 1

Finalists Selected:January 15

Finalists Matched to Positions:

February 15

Chief's Scholars Orientation in DC:

Late June

Lauren Marshall | U.S. Forest Service | 202.205.1218 | lemarshall@fs.fed.us

Chief’s Scholar Nomination Form

Nominee’s Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Nominee’s E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________________

Nominee’s Phone Number: ______________________________________________________________

Is the Nominee a Veteran (nominee may be asked for documentation of service)? yes no

Nominating University or Organization: _____________________________________________________

Nominating Official’s Name: _____________________________________________________________

Nominating Official’s Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Nominating Official’s Phone Number: ______________________________________________________

Nominee’s Expected Graduation Date: _____________________________________________________

Nominee’s Expected Degree (type and field): _________________________________________________

Regions of the country where the nominee is interested in working (check all that apply): ___ Northern Region (Montana, North Dakota) ___Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington)

___ Pacific Southwest (California) ___Intermountain (Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) ___ Southwestern (Arizona, New Mexico) ___ Eastern Southern United States ___ Eastern Northern United States

With this form, please submit a resume, a graduate school transcript, a recommendation from an employer, professor or equivalent addressing both leadership skills and the nominees knowledge of his or her major field of study, and an essay by the nominee, no longer than 2 pages double spaced, responding to the following prompt:

“Why are you interested in public service? What experiences demonstrate your commitment to cultivating diversity in the workplace?”

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