Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Economic Policy, Political Procedure, Fiscal Policy, State Budgeting, Policy Research
This summer, I worked in the Office of the Wisconsin State Treasurer in the State Capitol Building. Although I had not completed any LaFollette coursework before this internship, I am confident that this experience will provide a solid foundation that will enable me to excel in the coursework I plan to take in later semesters. The first (and likely greatest) surprise of my internship was how the Office of the State Treasurer consists of just one individual: the State Treasurer himself! This organizational structure came with its benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, I ended up cultivating a strong professional relationship with the Treasurer and got an “immersive” view into the Treasurer’s day-to-day tasks in policymaking. As a result, I learned a ton through the conversations I had with Treasurer Leiber. We talked about everything from his experience on the campaign trail, the politics behind the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, and loads of Wisconsin history. One of the most valuable experiences of my internship was working with the Wisconsin Unclaimed Property program. Specifically, I browsed the Department of Revenue’s unclaimed property database, used mapping tools and court records to identify potential matches, and visited legislative offices to help coordinate the reclamation of Wisconsinites’ unclaimed property. Taking on this project was also personally rewarding, as I was able to return close to $40,000 to Wisconsin residents, using my internship to serve communities across the state. Towards the end of the internship, I was even able to assist the Treasurer in performing preliminary legal research (through reading statutes and court cases) related to two of his policy initiatives. Ultimately, I would recommend this internship to someone who desires to learn what Wisconsin government actually looks like. Instead of spending time sitting at my desk looking for work to do, I was actively collaborating with the Treasurer on his work or working on my independent project with the unclaimed property program. Along with the professional communication and project management skills I gained, this internship has been helpful in my discernment of careers in government and politics, and whether these areas are good fits for my long-term future.