Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Agriculture, Environment
During my internship with Wisconsin State Representative Travis Tranel, I gained meaningful experience in legislative processes and constituent services. I learned how a district office connects constituents to their government and how policy priorities are shaped by public input. One of my main responsibilities was entering and organizing data from the spring survey, which asked constituents about their views on the 2025 state budget. This helped me understand the wide range of issues people care about, from agriculture and infrastructure to healthcare and education. The skills I’ve developed at the La Follette School helped me identify patterns in survey responses and see those trends clearly, understanding how demographics impact constituent priorities. I also went through local newspapers, entering obituaries and flagging important community events. This gave me insight into how elected officials stay informed and engaged with their districts on a personal level, something I hadn’t fully appreciated before. What surprised me most was how often constituents reach out for help navigating government agencies. Constituents were constantly calling the office and Tranel’s staff was exceptional at helping them. I also assisted constituents by phone and email giving me direct problem solving experience and it highlighted the impact of public service. These interactions were the most valuable part of my internship, as they reinforced my desire to work in a role that serves the public directly. The La Follette School helped me get this internship because Representative Tranel spoke in my Public Affairs 250 course, and I would recommend that students take all the opportunities they can get and reach out to Representatives in state government, they always need help.