Aggie Interns Making Their Mark – In Washington, Austin And Elsewhere

Bush School Answer: Washington, D. C. Question: Where is the largest contingent of Texas A&M University students outside of Aggieland? Why: They are gaining valuable “real-world” experience as interns.

Texas A&M, in fact, has one of the largest contingents of interns working in the nation’s capital — approximately 35-40 at any given time, university officials note.

They are serving as congressional aides and working in various capacities in a host of governmental offices, as well as interning with several well-known not-for-profit organizations based in the nation’s capital. Similar opportunities are offered in Austin, especially when the Legislature is in session.

More than 1,200 Aggies have gained experience serving as interns in Washington and the surrounding area since the first opportunities were offered in 1990. Since 2002, Texas A&M, with the help of generous supporters, has even operated a “D.C. dorm”— five fully furnished apartments in a unit in nearby Crystal City. Those living quarters are overseen by an “RA” — residence hall advisor — akin to how senior-level students serve in residence halls on the main campus.

Although the nation’s capital is a major focus for Texas A&M interns, others are busy serving in similar capacities throughout the state, from coast-to-coast and even abroad, university officials point out.

Several members of the Texas congressional delegation have Aggie interns in their offices. Cong. Bill Flores, whose district includes Texas A&M, his alma mater, always has at least one Aggie intern on staff, notes a spokesperson for his office.

“Interning provides students with great opportunities and valuable experiences that will help them in their future endeavors,” notes Cong. Flores. “I always look forward to meeting Aggie interns and encouraging them to take full advantage of the opportunities they are given while away from campus. The work that they perform is invaluable to our offices and they help create a friendly Texas atmosphere that reminds our visitors of home. I truly appreciate those Aggies who have interned in my offices and hope that the memories that they have made and lessons they have learned last a lifetime.”

Austin Joyce, a senior agricultural business major from Pearland, who is currently serving as an intern in Cong. Flores’ office, says he is getting insight into how government works at the highest level and is grateful for the opportunity afforded him.

“This internship has been a wonderful opportunity. I have always been fond of politics and have political aspirations later on in life,” notes Joyce. “Being in Washington, D.C. and interacting on a daily basis with individuals who help to shape legislation really puts in perspective the legislative process. This internship has allowed me to see different aspects of what goes on in Washington, D.C. Interacting with constituents, attending briefings, watching debate on the house floor, and visiting with Congressman Flores and the staff are all opportunities that have given me an in-depth look at how congress works.”

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin, who has taken the opportunity to meet with many of the Aggie interns during trips to Washington, says he is always impressed by the high caliber of students he encounters.

“The interns I have met speak highly of their experiences, telling me that they are gaining valuable insight into how government works — indeed, how Washington actually works — and they are confident that their internships will pay big dividends after graduation, whether it be in the marketplace or in graduate or professional schools,” Loftin states. “What I do know is that we have outstanding representation in Washington, and I am confident the same can be said about our interns serving in Austin and elsewhere.”

Jennifer Salazar of Austin is a recent beneficiary of the opportunity to intern in Austin during a legislative session. She describes it as an experience she will never forget.

“My experience working for the office of State Senator Juan ‘Chuy’ Hinojosa was one that I will never forget. I have never worked for an office that was more positive, inspiring and welcoming,” says Salazar, who majored in business. “My main role in the office was to maintain and handle the senator’s daily schedule which entailed managing an average of 50-75 daily meeting requests, posting committee hearings and special events, as well as numerous other scheduling requests. While I am naturally an organized person, I learned to be even more organized with my time by prioritizing and staying focused at all times.”

Texas A&M has two programs devoted to helping active and high-achieving undergraduate students secure internships in Washington and Austin — and now abroad — in fields that coincide with their academic interests and potential career aspirations. Additionally, the George Bush School of Government and Public Service has a robust government-oriented internship program for its students, all of whom are pursuing Texas A&M degrees at the master’s level.

The two initiatives are carried out through an umbrella organization, the Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP), which is open to all majors across campus and is overseen by the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies. The Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program (ANRP) is operated by the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences exclusively for its students.

PPIP and ANRP cite similar program objectives: “Texas A&M University recognizes internships as an integral part of its curriculum, enabling students to participate in structured, supervised learning experiences off-campus. PPIP and ANRP strive to provide out-of-classroom opportunities which help students build on and enhance previous coursework. Integrating an off-campus, work-learning experience with related curriculum choices reinforces learning on campus.” In short, PPIP and ANRP internships complement and reinforce students’ coursework, give students inside knowledge about their professional future and provide hosting organizations with additional resources.

In addition to the interns working as congressional aides, others serve in a variety of other governmental capacities at the White House, the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, State and Treasury, along with the Department of the Navy (Underwater Archaeology Branch), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Peace Corps.

Other interns serve in such not-for-profit organizations as The Heritage Foundation and the National Conference of State Legislators. Still others serve at such entities as the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations and Hearst Newspapers.

PPIP and ANRP representatives emphasize that all internships they oversee must focus on policy and the policy-making process.

Through PPIP some especially fortunate Aggie interns get plum posts in Paris and London with the U.S. Commercial Services, and with the Centre international de formation europénne (CIFE) in various other European Union cities. The ANRP program has United Nations ties through the Food and Agriculture Organization, opening still other doors for interns — even in Rome.

Internships for Aggies are not limited to opportunities in capitals — be they at the state, national or international levels — or to the PPIP and ANRP programs. Scores of such opportunities are offered by all of the university’s academic colleges at business and industry sites, as well as at other governmental and not-for-profit organizations, in Texas, throughout the nation and abroad.

For more information about ANRP and PPIP, go here.

For an overview of where many other Aggies are interning, go here.