“Through this internship, I learned how to take complex engineering information and effectively communicate it to the public. This position also offered opportunities to network with City staff and local journalists.”
Internship summaries: undergraduate
Summaries written by undergraduate students about their internships for their certificates.
New Hope Center (NHC)
“Because New Hope’s services are so diverse and integral to the daily lives of our clients, I was able to wear many hats and was exposed to many different public policy issues.”
Waterford Union High School District (WUHS)
“…I analyzed policy options and
selected clauses that fit WUHS’s mission best. I also practiced my policy writing skills in the creation of new clauses to supplement or replace previously standardized health and wellness policy clauses. My revisions involved eliminating vague or ambiguous terms, promoting personal health, and including stakeholders.”
Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson
“This experience enhanced my knowledge of legislative processes and state politics. It also allowed me to gain first-hand experience with a vast array of policy areas ranging from healthcare, to the environment, to professional licensing, and education, among many others.”
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the Drinking Water and Groundwater Program
“Through this internship, I expanded my skills in customer service, problem-solving, and effective communication of new ideas through various forms. I also applied much of the knowledge I learned in my La Follette courses when predicting public responses to new policies, ensuring feasibility, and learning about evidence-based policymaking in other DNR programs.”
StreetLife Communities
“My internship was focused specifically on policy advocacy regarding at-risk youth, particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community.”
The World Music Foundation (TWMF)
“…I did a lot of researching and writing grants, creating and maintaining budgets, assisting in managing public relations, email outreach regarding funding, and the training of new interns…I feel better prepared to enter the Nonprofit sector knowing how a nonprofit works and how to analyze the organization that I am working for to understand its policy needs and where I can help the organization accomplish its goals.”
Flip the Vote
“I completed research on each of the states and partner groups and created content for the website based on this research. Working for Flip the Vote was a great introduction to public service and non-profits and I have learned a lot from this position.”
Urban Triage
“Through this internship, I was able to work with tenants, landlords, and other non-profits organizations daily through a cloud-based software created specifically for rental assistance programs. This internship also allowed me to further my knowledge about the ins and outs of how housing and community development programs operate.”
Elected Official: Town of Berry
“This summer, I began to understand the realities of being an elected official, engaged with residents on issues of local interest, met with officials at other levels of government, and even brought forward proposed ordinances of my own.”