A new advisory board comprising public leaders from across Ohio plans to mentor Miami University students in specialized “real world laboratory” internships, enhancing students’ understanding of the inner-workings of state and local government.

The new Ohio Public Leaders: Inside State and Local Government program is the latest initiative of Miami’s Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs, housed in the department of political science.

Students accepted into the program receive paid internships and are assigned to state or local government institutions or to public affairs-related nonprofit agencies throughout Ohio. Fellowships support the students as they work on projects that are designed to meet the needs of partner agencies. Advisory board members, along with faculty and professional mentors, will engage with students during their internships.

“Students will emerge from the Ohio Public Leaders initiative prepared for success in the arena of public leadership while host organizations will benefit from engaging with outstanding young talent,” said Philip Russo, Miami political science professor and director of the center, now in its 28th year.

“This program will offer a truly transformative experience,” said Patrick Haney, professor and interim chair of the political science department. “For the students it will provide curricular and co-curricular support — and a paid internship — to develop their interests in state and local government; for the state of Ohio it will be a positive step as part of the efforts to keep the best talent in Ohio and develop a cadre of tomorrow’s public leaders. We’re very excited to get started.”

Dana McDaniel (Miami ’87), Dublin city manager and director of economic development, is a founding member of the Ohio Public Leaders advisory board and sees the significance of the center’s role in building future public leaders.

“No doubt, public service is a calling. Our public expects and demands a lot from its employees and leaders,” McDaniel said. “Our students must be prepared on many levels to answer that call.”

Ohio Rep. Tim Derickson (53rd District), another founding member of the advisory board, said that as someone who has served in a public role for 13 years, he realized the value of the program and sees much potential for the students who participate.

“Being able to steer them to public service, because it’s been rewarding for me, is the next step for many of us who have been in this role for a while,” Derickson said.

When he was a Hanover Twp. Trustee, Derickson said he saw firsthand the value of the students’ work through the center.

“It did a lot for me and other township trustees. For instance, a township survey that was conducted by the center — by the students — showed results that encouraged me to put a levy on the ballot that I never would have before,” he said. “It was a public service levy and, not being keen on raising taxes, I wouldn’t have pursued it if I had not read the survey.”

Derickson said there is no better way to provide enlightenment than through the opportunity for hands on experience.

“Not only do they have this experience, but they also have an idea about what to expect when they get out of school,” he said.