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Auggie Burke '23

Auggie worked as a research intern for the office of Walter Russell Mead at Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. She gained exposure to critical policy issues through research directed by her scholar, and she spent time discussing these issues with him and his team. Being in person has enabled Auggie to attend weekly events featuring experts from Hudson Institute and around the world. She aided Mr. Mead with research for his Wall Street Journal and Foreign Affairs column as well as research for briefings and long-term projects. She also composed biographies and memos for Mr. Mead’s weekly meetings with policy leaders, ambassadors and journalists. One of the larger projects was analyzing government assistance programs for the unemployed. Researching the efficacy and costs of unemployment benefits and state retraining programs has been one way Auggie helped Mr. Mead collect research for his upcoming book. Additionally, she assisted with administrative tasks and event support. Auggie advises those interested in foreign policy and national security issues to learn more about the Hudson Institute and the innovative work they produce. 

Ella Dudley '23

Ella was a 2022 º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Public Service Fellow, working for the California Democratic Party in Sacramento, California. Working with the communications department her main responsibilities consisted of generating graphics for events, elections, and other important information, assisting in organizing events and maintaining communication with other departments within the organization as well as with news outlets. In addition, she conducted research on political issues pertinent to California politics, such as the responsiveness and activeness of voters across the state. Ella would definitely recommend this internship, or similar work, to anyone interested in American politics or policy in general. It is a great introduction to the process, very hands-on with both larger and smaller projects, and the staff is wonderful and extremely helpful. The different departments within the organization work closely together and rely on each other so there is a huge opportunity to learn and observe experienced, smart people. 

Liam McNett '23

Liam McNett was a 2022 BPS Fellow and a member of the 2021 BPS in Washington Cohort. As a Fellow, he interned at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. The CPB brings both civil and criminal cases "to enforce laws that protect Americans’ health, safety, economic security, and identity integrity”. As an undergraduate intern, Liam worked directly with DOJ attorneys on a variety of projects for active cases including clinical trial fraud, medical device fraud, opioids, drug misbranding, and defensive litigation while also contributing to legal research on counterfeit drug cases. In addition to these projects, the internship provided several opportunities to hear from CPB attorneys as well as attorneys across the DOJ about their careers and professional trajectories. An especially valuable aspect of the internship was the chance to learn about the different divisions and professional opportunities at the DOJ. Liam recommends this internship to anyone interested in a legal career (especially public interest law), as this experience provides a close view of what it looks like to be a DOJ attorney and the Department of Justice more broadly. 

Luke Bartol '23

Luke was a 2022 BPS fellow and part of the 2020 BPS in Washington cohort. This summer he was at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Working on the public engagement team, he helped to do stakeholder communications for CEQ and the newly formed Climate Policy Office (CPO), meeting with interest groups, coordinating events and messaging for presidential initiatives, and developing future plans for the work of the offices. This involved a myriad of topics from updates to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), to advancing environmental justice through the J40 initiative, to conservation efforts though national monument dedication, to sustainability within the federal government. Luke would recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in doing a wide range of work on a variety of environmental topics and is interesting in working on politics through an executive lens.  

Paulina Morales '24

Paulina was a 2022 Maine BPS Fellow and a member of the 2022 º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ Public Service in Washington cohort. As a Fellow, Paulina works in the Town of Brunswick’s Economic and Community Development Department where she provides research, support, and outreach for various grants projects relating to community redevelopment and safety. As an intern, Paulina’s main responsibility was to work with the Welcome Center, a central activity hub that intends to centralize resources for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees arriving in Brunswick. Paulina, with the support of Town staff and the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine (IRCM), developed and conducted community assessment surveys to identify and understand the systemic issues that impact the immigrant population. The data collected will be used to make the Welcome Center and other service providers, such as financial literacy and ESOL courses, workforce resources, and legal aid, more accessible. She recommends this internship to anyone who wants to have a deep insight in how communities are impacted by local governments. Working in a new space can be nerve-wracking, but don’t let this deter your learning experience: ask questions and take risks by working on projects you aren’t familiar with! 

Boaz Malakoff '24

Boaz was a 2022 BPS Maine Local Government Fellow, and was placed in the Town Manager’s Office in the Town of Topsham. As an intern, he worked on a variety of projects across different areas of municipal governance. One of his major projects was conducting a survey of rental property owners to collect information on the Town’s rental market. His other major project was helping the Town manage its tax-acquired properties in which he created a catalogue of the Town’s tax-acquired properties and performed basic title research as needed. Otherwise, he developed a funding model for a construction project and explored the Town’s Departments and Committees by shadowing Municipal officials and attending departmental and committee meetings. The internship is designed to be an educational experience, so Boaz recommends it to students who want to pursue public service but are still exploring possible career paths. Topsham’s municipal staff are wonderful resources: they care deeply about their local community AND their interns. As such, they are always willing to answer your questions about municipal governance and are eager to talk about your future career interests. 

Alondra Romero '24

Alondra Romero sought the BPS Maine Government Fellowship Program after being involved in the Mckeen Center throughout the year to learn more about the nuances of Maine government through a public health lens. This summer she is interning with the Office of Public Health Equity (OPHE) with the Maine CDC. The office was re-established after the COVID-19 pandemic made health disparities across Maine and the country at large increasingly apparent. The team she works with seeks to address the social determinants of health to create a more equitable Maine for all people. Through this internship, Alondra has had the opportunity to learn how to achieve the goal of eliminating Maine health disparities by shadowing different offices and talking to a plethora of public health workers. Most of her work has focused on community partner building to increase representation of historically underserved communities and build a trusting relationship between the state and the community. Alondra’s favorite part of the job has been participating in site visits where she can engage in informal conversations with grassroots organizations and learn how the state can best assist them in addressing health disparities.  For future students interested in interning in a fellowship like this one, she recommends trying to meet as many people as possible in the time you have because you never know what will spark your interest!