The application for the Fall 2025 Valdez Fellowship will be available in January 2025.
The Valdez Fellowship is designed to identify the country’s most talented students aspiring to executive levels in local government.
Learn more about Senior Vice President for Business Affairs at the University of Arizona, Joel Valdez.
Benefits
As full-time students, Valdez Fellows receive the knowledge, training, and necessary experience to become future city/county managers in local government.
Valdez Fellows also receive the following benefits:
In both their first and second year, Valdez Fellows enjoy the prestige associated with working as a Management Intern for the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita.
This management internship will count as 6 units of credit towards the MPA or MPP degree requirements.
Valdez Fellows must serve as an active and engaged UA ICMA Board Member, either as a de-facto position or selected by vote for one of five open positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Communications Chair, or Recruitment Chair.
UA ICMA board membership responsibilities include being a local government liaison for the organization, and ensuring the board's commitment to its academic year strategic plan.
Click here for more information on UA ICMA.
Valdez Fellows are also inducted into the ACMA and may attend the winter or summer conference.
Click here for more information about ACMA.
Application Process
Valdez Fellowship program applications are accepted once every two years (odd years only) for fall admission. The program will admit one student based on a competitive application review process designed to identify the most talented individual aspiring to executive levels in local government.
- All applicants must apply and receive admission to the MPA or MPP program.
- Applications for both the MPA or MPP programs and the Valdez Fellowship must be received by the posted deadlines.
- Applicants must be considered an incoming graduate student at the time of application.
- Students currently in the AMP are not eligible to apply for the Valdez Fellowship program.
- Submit an application for admission via GradApp to the MPA or MPP program.
- Please review the admissions criteria prior to applying:
- Submit an application to the Valdez Fellowship.
- Please note it is strongly recommended to receive admission to the MPA or MPP program prior to applying for the Valdez Fellowship.
The application for the Fall 2025 Valdez Fellowship will be available in January 2025.