Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Policy Areas: Global Health, Social Justice
During my internship with the 4W Initiative: for Women & Wellbeing in Wisconsin & the World, I had the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and interdisciplinary team that works to promote gender justice, sustainability, and global wellbeing. My main project was researching and writing a policy brief on gender equity in education, which allowed me to directly apply the policy analysis and writing skills I’ve been developing in courses at the La Follette School. I also participated in weekly team meetings, helped plan upcoming events, and supported ongoing research and outreach projects. One of the most valuable aspects of this internship was the chance to see how academic research connects to real-world advocacy and policy making. I was surprised by how collaborative the 4W environment was, with faculty, staff, and students working in many different departments and disciplines here at UW and beyond. I appreciated the freedom I had to shape my project and pursue a topic that aligned with my interests in gender and education policy, with huge support from the Director, Lori DiPrete Brown, and my supervisor, Shiqi Shen (PhD grad student). This internship affirmed my interests in intersectional policy work and clarified that I want to pursue a career where I can blend research, writing, and action to promote equity. I would highly recommend an internship with 4W to La Follette students who are passionate about gender justice, global development, or university and community partnerships. This experience has helped me grow as both a scholar and a practitioner!