Internship summaries: graduate

“As a policy intern, I found myself at the intersection of theory and practice, where the theoretical knowledge gained from La Follette coursework became the foundation for practical application.”

“I would recommend this internship to future students because I think this is a values-based organization and I have been able to learn some really innovative policies and practices…”

“This internship shaped the way I view labor policy in our state, and this would be an agency I would be happy to continue working at full-time upon graduation.”

“I cannot overstate the significance of my internship experience; it proved immensely valuable in numerous aspects, including combating impostor syndrome.”

“It was valuable to me to have a seat at the table of so many planning meetings for decisions being made on behalf of the state. It was also very valuable to begin to learn how to achieve success within a state government.”

“Throughout this internship, I advanced my skills in policy analysis, public affairs, and effective communication strategies. Working on real-world challenges and witnessing the positive impact of gender-inclusive policies on rural communities reinforced my passion for sustainable development and gender empowerment.”

“I would definitely recommend this internship for anyone who has never experienced working in state government and is interested in that, as well as how equity is incorporated into state-level policy work.”

“The projects (I worked on) were also a good substantive fit to my coursework and research interests, allowing me to apply and extend my knowledge on environmental policies, survey methods, and theories in political science.”

“I relied heavily on my experience in PA 873: Introduction to Policy Analysis, as my issue papers were a similar format to the policy analysis project I completed for the course.”

“…my time at the LFS has definitely contributed to both my level of tolerance for the difficult process of learning to do what I did, and to my level of preparation for the use of a data analysis language like R, despite my low level of prior use of the software.”