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1. Where did you intern? Briefly, what does/did your internship entail?
I served as a James H. Dunn Fellow for the Office of General Counsel in the Illinois Governor’s Office. The Dunn Fellowship is one-year, paid opportunity for recent graduates to work on a given team in the Governor’s Office. My position involved a number of responsibilities, including: maintaining contact information for general counsels of executive agencies; monitoring agencies’ sexual harassment reporting compliance; assisting my team in sourcing candidates for appointment to various boards and commissions; assisting in the preparation of responses to FOIA requests; sitting in on bill negotiations; and drafting memoranda on various issues for senior staff review. Outside of my main tasks, I was encouraged to get involved on special projects that interested me.

2. What aspects of your internship do/did you enjoy most? Find most challenging?
Something that makes the Dunn Fellowship particularly special is that not only do fellows learn from and build long-lasting connections with their team and the office at large, but they form friendships with other fellows in their cohort. This is nice as each fellow is likely going through the same post-graduate imposter-syndrome mentality, so leaning on one another is really valuable. I remain close friends with multiple fellows from my cohort! Another enjoyable aspect is that fellows get to see lawmaking up close and observe the inner workings of state government. Fellows meet smart, accomplished individuals who have dedicated their lives’ work to making Illinois a better and safer place to call home. By the same token, one of the more challenging aspects of the fellowship was getting up to speed on the alphabet soup of agency abbreviations. Once I learned abbreviations for most agencies, organizations, and processes, it became much easier to follow and participate in fast-paced conversations with key stakeholders.

3. How does/did your internship relate to what you have been studying at Illinois Wesleyan?
The courses I took at Illinois Wesleyan gave me a strong foundation of knowledge of the law and legislative processes, allowing me to hit the ground running in my fellowship. For instance, the research skills I built in Empirical Research and when working on my senior capstone project came in handy when I was asked to draft memoranda on given topics and interpret data. Further, the trial simulation class gave me a practical background of how lawsuits originate and progress, which came in handy in my role with the legal team. The various law courses I took gave me a strong grasp of the constitutional landscape our office and other key players had to navigate when devising new laws and responding to emerging issues.

4. Has your internship given you any insight into what you would like to do upon graduating from Illinois Wesleyan?
My time as a Dunn Fellow on the legal team was deeply impactful—it confirmed my desire to attend law school and showed me the many roles a lawyer can occupy rather than simply litigating. Furthermore, this opportunity introduced me to new connections that have become meaningful mentors in my life.

5. What advice, if any, would you give to Political Science majors looking for, or even just considering, an internship?
äçÐÄvlogÃâ·ÑBÕ¾ has a vast network of alumni who are always happy to speak with current students—take advantage! These folks can provide insight on what a particular role entails and how to get your foot in the door. They want to help get you where you want to go, so take them up on it. Once you have found a role you’re interested in, learn as much as you can about the organization so that you can put your best foot forward in cover letters and interviews. Learn what makes you unique and market that. For instance, one thing I highlighted in my Dunn Fellowship interviews was how my background as a child of a single-parent, blue-collar household in rural America has impacted my work ethic and passion. Find what works for you and show them how your background qualifies you for the role.