UMW Alumna Channels Passion for Public Service into State Fellowship

At the University of Mary Washington, Kristen Ramey ’17 found a home in UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). Participating in the student-led service organization helped shape her college experience and deepened her connections within the Fredericksburg community.

“I discovered that I wanted to help people,” said Kristen, who spent four years giving her time to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and the Brisben Center for unhoused individuals. She also worked weekly with two elementary-school students through Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Fredericksburg. “I loved volunteering and making a difference.”

Now, Kristen is putting her passion for public service to work at the state level, participating in the prestigious Virginia Management Fellows (VMF) program. This initiative, developed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in collaboration with Virginia Tech, offers college graduates the chance to learn about the inner workings of state government and prepare for future management and leadership roles in the public sector, all while earning a paycheck.

She’s the fourth Mary Washington alum to take part in the program, following in the footsteps of Claire Mairead ’14, John Cronin ’19, and Megan Weeks ’21, who all have worked for the Commonwealth of Virginia after being selected as fellows.

“I was drawn to the uniqueness of the VMF program and the firsthand experience this kind of opportunity provides,” said Kristen, who will spend two years rotating through three government agencies in Richmond. “I’m learning how different policies, processes, and services impact Virginians on a day-to-day basis.”

It’s an ideal career move for Kristen, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mary Washington. She became interested in the subject while attending Culpeper High School, where she took part in an entrepreneurial program, E Squared, learning how to pitch potential investors and draw up mock business plans. Career Partners Inc., which runs the program, awarded Kristen a $5,000 scholarship, which helped cover part of her tuition to Mary Washington.

“UMW’s College of Business gave me a great foundation to enter the workforce,” said Kristen, who took courses like creative and strategic management and organizational behavior, which she now relies on in her fellowship.

Kristen with former College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson, who gave her guidance and advice on being a woman in business. She also invited Kristen to join a satellite team of the Rappahannock Rotary Club after graduation. Photo courtesy of Kristen Ramey.

As a UMW student, Kristen went on a College of Business faculty-led field trip to Chile, where she learned about business and law, visited a women’s shelter (seen here), and met with a renowned judge who specialized in human rights cases. Photo courtesy of Kristen Ramey.

Kristen (standing, black shirt) working at the Fredericksburg Food Bank with other members of the Rappahannock Rotary Club. Photo courtesy of Kristen Ramey.

She also sought advice from faculty members like former College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson, who invited Kristen to join UMW’s Women in Business Club as a student and a satellite team of young professionals with the Rappahannock Rotary Club once she graduated.

“She would always emphasize the importance of being confident in your abilities and advocating for yourself,” Kristen said. “She taught me how to find a seat at the table, especially as a woman in business.”

Kristen’s coursework also expanded her understanding of systemic change and public policy, and she combined her academic interests on a faculty-led study abroad trip to Chile to learn about business, law, and human rights.

After graduation, Kristen worked on contracts for both the U.S. Marines and Navy. She then earned a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2023, while working part time for a nonprofit and a government agency focused on child welfare.

When she learned about VMF, she said, it seemed like a perfect path to promote positive change statewide. As a member of the program’s sixth cohort, she joined graduates from Virginia Tech, William & Mary, and Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion, Brandeis, and Regent universities, in applying their academic learning to the halls of state government.

Kristen began in the Virginia Department of Taxation, where she researched how agencies can retain institutional knowledge after longtime public servants retire. Now in her second rotation, she’s using her public policy and research background to analyze chronic absenteeism among K-12 students for Virginia’s Department of Education, examining the best practices used by school divisions across the state to address the issue.

“UMW gave me a strong business and management education that translates well to the public sector,” said Kristen, who hopes to pursue public policy as a career. “This fellowship is such a wonderful way for recent graduates to gain professional experience, make connections, and learn about the opportunities to work in in public service.”

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04