![\"Erik](\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/news\/images\/illustrations\/webererik09.jpg\")
LEXINGTON, Ky.\u2014Transylvania University alum Erik Weber \u201907 has been named a Presidential Management Fellow in the Federal Transit Administration in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 Through the fellowship, Weber works with the United We Ride agency, which focuses on helping communities provide safe, affordable and easy access to public transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy work revolves around human service transportation issues, especially those of lower-income, disabled and older Americans,\u201d said Weber. \u201cThese transportation-disadvantaged populations require more specific attention because they may not have the same access to standard transit services that are available in their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
For 29 years, the Presidential Management Fellows Program has been used by federal agencies to attract outstanding graduate students from a wide variety of academic disciplines to public service. The two-year fellowship offers extensive formal classroom training and rotational assignment opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cFormer Fellows at FTA have rotated within the administration or the department or gone outside of federal government altogether,\u201d Weber said. <\/p>\n
Weber took the position in Washington, D.C., after being offered a teaching position in Austria through the prestigious Fulbright Program. He is fluent in German and has taught German to high school students through Kentucky Educational Television.<\/p>\n