Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship: An internship with the NOAA Restoration Center

The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program affords graduate students an opportunity to work on marine policy and related activities within the Legislative and Executive branches of government. Fellows spend one year with host offices in the Washington D.C. area learning about the policy decision-making process and how the process affects coastal and Great Lakes resource management. As a Knauss Fellow with the NOAA Restoration Center in 2007, I had many duties ranging from day-to-day operations to helping put together major program-highlighting events. Aside from my office responsibilities, I also had many opportunities for professional and educational development through Knauss-sponsored activities. My goals through the Fellowship were to learn about the marine policy decision-making process and to understand how existing policy affects on-the-ground work of federal and state agencies as well as non-governmental organizations.