VCU School of Pharmacy Student Selected as 2011 Virginia Governor’s Fellow

Natalie Nguyen, a rising second-year student at the VCU School of Pharmacy, has been named one of 15 2011 Virginia Governor’s Fellows. She will work with the state’s health and human resources secretariat this summer.

The program, offered only to a select group of students, will provide Nguyen the opportunity to experience public health administration, an area of particular interest to her.

 “I am absolutely over the moon about getting this fellowship,” Nguyen said. “I’m really excited to represent the pharmacy perspective, because we are in a great position to contribute to public health conversations. Even within my first year of the VCU pharmacy program, I can already see what I’ve learned being very useful in understanding the policies of the office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.”

Nguyen is a unique candidate for this fellowship, as most students who apply come from areas such as public policy, political science and business. Fellowship selection is based on merit and requires the fellow to work full time in Virginia state government.

“It's a really big deal and I'm very excited for her,” said Ron Ballentine, assistant director of admissions and student services in the VCU School of Pharmacy. “I think this speaks to the quality of students coming through our pharmacy program.”

Established in 1982, the Governor's Fellows Program brings exceptional students with creative ideas to state government — an experience that often leads to careers in public service.

For more information, visit http://www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/GovernorsFellows/index.cfm.