OXFORD, Miss. – Instead of spending sunny Saturdays in
flip-flops and a T-shirt watching baseball games at Swayze
Field this spring, University of Mississippi senior William
Gillis is in Washington, D.C., walking the paths of top
policy experts, touring Smithsonian museums and visiting
national monuments.
Gillis, a 22-year-old marketing major from Columbus, is one
of 17 Ole Miss students participating in the first
Washington Internship Experience Program. Developed by UM’s
Trent Lott Leadership Institute, Department of Political
Science and Division of Outreach, the semester-long
internships combine work and study for UM undergraduate and
graduate students planned around their special interests.
Gillis said the view outside his window is just one reason
he’s enjoying the experience. “I came up here as a business
major and not really having any interest in politics; I am
now seriously considering moving back to D.C. after I
graduate,” he said.
The interns spend 32 hours each week working for government
offices, the media or national institutions. They also
attend a weekly class on Washington policy processes and
take online courses through the university to maintain
full-time student status.
Ashley Collins, a 22-year-old senior managerial finance
major from Little Rock, Ark., said her internship has given
her a new perspective on her studies.
“I work in the economic policy department of the Center
for American Progress , and I thought I hated economics
because my econ classes haven’t been that exciting, but
being here makes me want to eventually pursue a career
involving economics,” she said.
Dallas native Katie Hiatt, a 21-year-old junior journalism
major and political science minor, said balancing school
and work can be a challenge. After working all day for U.S.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling, (R-Texas), Hiatt must find time to
complete nine hours of online classes through Ole Miss and
attend the three-hour required class. Also, her internship
work, which began with small responsibilities, has
progressed to writing letters to constituents and material
for the Congressional Record, giving her real-world
experience in her major.
When stressed or homesick, Hiatt said she reminds herself
why she is there. “Every little task I am given makes me
feel better equipped and able to tell a future employer,
‘I’ve done X,Y and Z,’ and hopefully other people
interviewing for that job won’t have that same experience,”
she said.
Blake Jackson, a 21-year-old political science major from
Shreveport, La., works for U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.).
He said he expects the experience will be a plus whether he
decides to go to graduate school or find a job.
“I have a full semester of top-notch experience and
references that will stand out in any pile of grad school
and job applications,” Jackson said. “A GPA is important
and campus activities are special, but any employer will
tell you that your past work experience is what will set
you apart.”
Though the WIE is an academic program, students are
encouraged to take advantage of the full schedule of events
and opportunties available to them in Washington.
Collins said she especially enjoys activities at the Center
for American Progress arranged by the university outside of
her internship. “We’ve been to the Kennedy Center,
Arlington National Cemetery, Washington Monument, White
House, Wizards games and more,” she said. “Our weekends are
eventful and the best part is that Ole Miss has helped with
the expenses if they weren’t free.”
Applications for WIE are coordinated by the Division of
Outreach, said Mary Leach, on-campus program coordinator.
After students complete an online application, they must
meet for an informal interview with Leach; Joel Clark,
adjunct professor of public policy leadership; and Tim
Angle, assistant provost of summer school and outreach.
“We do an informal interview to make sure the students are
up to par with this program,” Leach said.
Upon acceptance into WIE, each student has the opportunity
to apply for merit-based and need-based scholarships. Leach
said that 16 of the 17 students interning this semester
received scholarships. Besides scholarships associated with
the WIE program, all current scholarships and financial aid
a student is receiving also apply.
Feedback from the interns indicates that the WIE program is
successful. Leach is in weekly contact with each of them
and reports that they all seem happy and well adjusted to
their routines.
“I can’t imagine this program going any better,” Hiatt
said. “It’s been really smooth, and I can’t think of a
thing that could be done in a better way. The people are
great and the program advisers are amazing people who I
will hopefully always keep in touch with.”
Jackson said his time in Washington is proving to be
invaluable. “Although Oxford in the spring is hard to miss
– and I sure do miss those baseball games – the time I have
spent here, learning daily what I want and don’t want to do
with my life, has been priceless.”
For more information visit
http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/washington?internship/
Students participating in the UM Washington Internship
Experience Program for spring 2008 are:
Correctional Association
International Center for Terrorism Studies
Brooks, Knoxville, Tenn., Center for Security Policy
Intern
American Progress – Economic Division
Gillis, Columbus, Tim Rupli Lobbying Firm and the office of
U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Texas, U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarlings (R-TX)
Harris, Horn Lake, Center for American Progress – Events
Planning – College Campuses
Diego, D.C. Attorney General’s Office – Juvenile
Division
Tax Reform
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)
Ga., U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Vicksburg, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Corrections Association
National Education Association
Houlka, Correctional Corporation of America
Sanders, Pope, Naval Criminal Investigative Service,
Personnel Operations and Services Dept.