Each spring semester, Washington College sends students to serve as legislative interns during the Maryland General Assembly’s annual session.

Students do a variety of activities, such as conducting legislative research, writing correspondence, preparing and recording testimony, contacting witnesses, attending committee hearings, tracking bills, working on mailings, and responding to constituents’ problems.   Students are also paid a small stipend for their participation.

Vince Pacheco ’21, who interned virtually for Representative Kumar Barve during the Spring 2021 semester, said he learned a tremendous amount about the importance of local politics, “If Covid has taught us anything, it is that locally elected leaders and politicians have a lot influence over our lives. Media coverage is so small on county and state leaders, but their decisions impact us greatly. The MGA internship truly made me study the demographics of Montgomery County (for my delegate), Baltimore County (where I was born and raised), and the state as a whole. It’s so important to research and know what actions our local state leaders are making.”

Zulekha Abu, ’14, also describes her time working as an intern in the State Senate as an “amazing” opportunity and “would strongly suggest the internship for any political science major.”   And Caitlin Steele, ’14, says that her hard work in the General Assembly was strongly appreciated by her office.  She says, “It was one of my best experiences while a student of Washington College. I know I would love a job at the Maryland General Assembly again and that I would be able to get one with this internship.”

Paris Young ’21, advises all students to “be intentional in everything that you do. I say this because you are not only working under their delegate, but you are also working for their delegate's constituents. You reflect their delegate and there is a whole community reliant on the work that their delegate produces.”

Washington College students work full-time as interns on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and meet weekly for a seminar on campus.  Students earn 8 academic credits. 

Juniors and seniors who carry a 3.0 minimum GPA are eligible to apply.  While many interns are political science majors, some are not.  Washington College encourages all students with an interest in politics to consider applying.  For more specific information about the program, see program information at the State of Maryland’s Office of Legislative Services.

Please e-mail or see Dr. Tahir Shad for more information. Applications are due October 31st.

 

Tahir Shad

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies; Director, Near Eastern Studies minor

• (800) 422-1782, ext. 7779
• tshad2@washcoll.edu
• Goldstein 229