Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce 2006 Honoree George Selim to Discuss Federal Jobs Opportunities at Southern Illinois University

CARBONDALE -- (From the Southern Illinoisan)...A U.S. Department of Homeland Security policy adviser will visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale later this month to discuss career opportunities in the federal government. George Selim is a policy adviser in Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights & Civil Liberties. He is speaking at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the Student Center auditorium. The presentation is free, and the public is invited.

While visiting SIUC, Selim “will share his story regarding the benefits of working in a federal organization and discuss the numerous benefits of government service,” said Michelle R. Garrett, an SIUC Career Services specialist. “Career Services hopes that students and community members will take advantage of this opportunity to hear first-hand about the many rewards of public service.”The federal government is the nation’s largest employer. According to a 2007 study by the Partnership for Public Service, the nation’s largest federal agencies will hire nearly 193,000 new workers for “mission-critical jobs,” Garrett said.

“Given this number of available positions coupled with the current uncertain economic times, students must not overlook the many career opportunities offered by the federal government,” she said. Among the many benefits available is student loan repayment assistance. In his current job, Selim provides counsel that enables federal policy makers to achieve national security and law enforcement goals in ways that also protect an individual’s civil rights and civil liberties. He works with federal agencies to develop and strengthen the federal government’s civic engagement, public outreach and public diplomacy initiatives; regularly meets with the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities; and helps law enforcement officials better interact with ethnic and religious minorities.

Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Selim served under a White House appointment to the U.S. Department of Justice as special assistant to the director of the Community Relations Service. Selim is a member of the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Public Service Speakers Bureau. The speakers bureau, coordinated by the Partnership for Public Service, “is a dynamic, diverse group of federal employees ready to educate audiences about the federal workforce and to inspire a new generation to serve,” according to its Web site. A native of Cleveland, Selim received the 2006 Department of Justice “Meritorious Service Award,” the 2006 Arab American Institute “Public Service Award,” and the 2005 Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce “Chairman’s Award."

More information about the Partnership for Public Service is available at www.ourpublicservice.org/OPS/. For more information on the presentation, contact Garrett at 618/453-2391, or via email at mrgarret@siu.edu.