20 students, one great program

Twenty students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are participating in summer internship experiences through the Washington, D.C., Summer Study Program from May 25 through mid-August.
This is the 36th  year of the program, designed and operated by CSB/SJU faculty and staff in the political science department.

It provides students an opportunity to live and work in the Washington, D.C., area while earning academic credit. Each student serves in a congressional office, on a committee staff, in a government agency, in a nonprofit organization or with a public affairs group, learning and working in a community. They apply for their internships based on their interests.

In addition to the work experience, program co-directors Whitney Court, assistant professor of political science at CSB and SJU, and Matt Lindstrom, professor of political science at CSB and SJU,  conduct seminars and arrange supplemental meetings with alumnae/i and other professionals to enhance the learning experience.

"In addition to the vast benefits of getting to see their coursework in action, one of the strongest features of our program is that it helps students build a stronger sense of identity and direction through connecting with our CSB/SJU alumnae/i, many of which interned through our program in the past and now have successful careers in Washington, D.C.," Court said.

The 20 students are:

• Marcus Barone, SJU senior political science major from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, isinterning at David Turch & Associates, a government affairs organization that focuses on transportation policy;
• Jake Collins, SJU senior political science major from North Mankato, Minnesota, is interning at the Office of Mexican Affairs at the U.S. Department of State;
• Anna Cron, CSB senior individualized-political science major from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is interning at the Organization of American States;
• Peter Diliberti, SJU senior political science major from Urbandale, Iowa, is interning for Iowa Rep. Steve King;
• Anne Gleich, CSB junior political science major from Hastings, Minnesota, is interning at the League of Women Voters;
• Sarah Haas, CSB junior political science major from Denver, is interning at the Office of the Secretary of State at the U.S. Department of State;
• Kory Kleven, SJU senior political science major from Larimore, North Dakota, is interning for North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer.
• Isaac Lindstrom, SJU junior political science major from Sartell, Minnesota, is interning for Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz.
• Megan McGuire, CSB senior political science and global business leadership double major from Montgomery, Minnesota, is interning for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar;
• Andrew Morley, SJU senior political science major from Cambridge, Minnesota, is interning for Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen;
• Tiffany Peplinski, CSB senior economics and political science major from Pine Island, Minnesota, is interning with the Office of Public Engagement at the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Charles Pults, SJU junior political science and history major from St. Paul, Minnesota, is interning for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee;
• Kyle Smith, SJU junior political science and history double major from St. Cloud, Minnesota, is interning at No Labels, an organization that aims to overcome partisan conflict;
• Katherine Stelzner, CSB junior political science major from Maple Grove, Minnesota, is interning at People or the American Way;
• Robin Swingley, SJU senior political science major from St. Joseph, Minnesota, is interning at Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations;
• Edwin Torres, SJU senior political science major from San Pedro, California, is interning for California Rep. Janice Hahn;
• Alex Wald, SJU senior economics major from Shoreview, Minnesota, is interning for Good Jobs First, a lobbying firm that works with grassroots groups and government officials to promote government accountability in corporate subsidies;
• Daniel Webb, SJU senior political science major from Grand Prairie, Texas, is interning at the White House Council on Environmental Quality;
• Mai Tong Yang, CSB senior political science major from St. Paul, Minnesota, is interning for Minnesota Sen. Al Franken;
• Sarah Young, a CSB senior political science major from Duluth, Minnesota, is interning at the Public Affairs Council, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical association for public affairs professionals.