“It was a great opportunity to get hands-on, real-world experience with policy and getting to draw on my La Follette coursework to make connections with challenges that Wisconsin is truly facing was an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Internship summaries: undergraduate
Summaries written by undergraduate students about their internships for their certificates.
Meet the Press
“…the public policy certificate provided me with a foundation to succeed at my internship.”
City of Madison’s Department of Civil Rights’ Racial Equity and Social Justice Division
“I learned that while it is important to think of the end goals, it is better to focus on the steps in between to reach the end goal…lessons I will take from my internship and from my future career as a physician and policymaker. I have learned to conduct proper research and use my findings to prepare for professional meetings in order to improve our communities.”
Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC)
“I helped with many different initiatives that all revolved around improving outcomes for people and the environment in Dane County.”
Patz Lab
“My time in the lab has helped me gain an interdisciplinary policy lens, developed my policy writing skills, and helped me gain first hand experience with real world policies.”
NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
“As a policy intern, I researched and analyzed data from across the country, promoted research into the potential medical benefits of cannabis, wrote hundreds of letters to be sent to legislators, tracked hundreds of pieces of legislation, and interpreted how marijuana policy impacts public health and social justice.”
Patz Lab
“As an undergraduate policy analyst for the Patz Lab, I am able to contribute to a multifaceted project that allows me to learn about many policy sectors.”
Wisconsin Policy Forum
“Following the completion of my internship, I believe I have greatly improved data analysis and policy synthesis skills to comprehensively look at issues in economic development and make the most informed, objective recommendations as a future policymaker.”
Pancreas Cancer Task Force of UW Carbone Cancer Center
“This internship has allowed me to explore other healthcare careers, network in a research setting, and truly impact pancreas cancer treatment advancement.”
Al Tahaluf Real Estate Company
“From my internship experience, I learned about the importance of assessing the implications of each decision and the challenges of meeting the needs of all stakeholders.”