ABQ Times

Two students from the University of New Mexico's School of Public Administration, Abigail Amankwah and Matt Aranez, have been selected for the 2024 National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Fellowship program. This initiative connects master's degree students with community development organizations.

Patria de Lancer Julnes, director of the School of Public Administration, expressed pride in this achievement: “This is the first time SPA has had the opportunity to participate in this NCRC fellowship program. It is a testament to our students' quality and our faculty's dedication to their success."

Amankwah will join Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity as an Affordable Housing Fellow. She will work on comparative studies of affordable housing, aiming to support legislative recommendations and strategic planning. Her mentors include Kurt Krahn and Jaclyn Gomez from SFHFH.

“Winning the NCRC Fellowship is an incredible honor," said Amankwah. "This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to further my dedication to academic excellence, collaboration, and innovation within the field of Public Administration.”

Aranez will be working with Albuquerque's Sustainability Office on Climate Pollution Reduction under Alice Main's guidance. He described his selection as a chance to explore sustainability within city government: “Being selected for the fellowship has been a chance to dive into the sustainability space."

The City of Albuquerque's Climate Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2025 through various energy projects and initiatives.

Both fellows receive training from regional leaders in nonprofit and government sectors along with a $20,000 stipend for their nine-month part-time commitment.

Paul Musgrave from UNM explained that applicants needed good standing in their master's program and interest in roles offered by host organizations. Six candidates applied for these positions this year.

Musgrave noted: “Having the ability to help place deserving students in Fellowship programs that provide hands-on experience...is just one of the many benefits of our program.”

The NCRC aims at addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities through its network focused on creating wealth-building opportunities across America.