Internship Location: Madison
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Health policy
Interning at the office of an Assembly member expanded my understanding of how the state legislature operates, how legislators interact with each other, as well as with advocates and their constituents. This experience helped me better understand the work of advocacy and the skills required to pursue roles in the field—an industry I hadn’t fully grasped before, especially as an international student. During my internship, I worked on several short research projects related to child health and women’s health, and drafted memos exploring potential legislative options. I also gained experience in bill tracking and comparative legislative research across different states. Specifically, I researched potential sources of federal funding for certain programs and grants available to different states, as well as legislation being proposed in other state legislatures. I found myself drawing on the structure and skills I had developed in the Policy Analysis course, and the State Policy course had already prepared me with a strong foundation in Wisconsin politics and legislative processes. I was surprised to realize just how many life-changing bills are being discussed—and potentially struck down—in the legislature, often without much public attention. Working for a member of the minority party also pushed me to think critically about the difference between messaging bills and those that are just more politically feasible to pass. Overall, this experience helped me become more familiar with the workings of state government, various agencies (especially in relation to funding research), and the broader field of advocacy.