2018 D.C. Summer Study Program features largest cohort

Twenty-eight 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 29 through mid-August.

This is the 39th year of the Summer Study Program designed and operated by CSB/SJU faculty and staff in the political science department. This year’s group is the largest cohort in the program’s history.

The program 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, 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, this summer’s program co-directors, Christi Siver and Whitney Court, associate professors of political science at CSB and SJU, conduct seminars and arrange supplemental meetings with alumnae/i and other professionals to enhance the learning experience. The program is coordinated each year by Sheila Hellermann, department coordinator for political science, sociology and peace studies.

There are 15 students from CSB and 13 from SJU in the program this year. While many of the students are political science majors, other majors are represented, including economics, Hispanic studies, German, history, biochemistry, integrated science, theology, gender studies, peace studies, accounting and finance and global business leadership.

The 28 students are:

Bardia Bijani Aval, a SJU junior majoring in integrative science from Göteborg, Sweden, is the education and diversity summer intern with the American Physical Society, a non-profit working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics.

Marcus Buric, a SJU senior majoring in global business leadership from Avon, Minnesota, is interning for U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota.

Lucy Dornbach, a CSB senior double-majoring in gender studies and Hispanic Studies from Minneapolis, is interning for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Johannah Frisby, a CSB senior majoring in peace studies with an environmental health focus from St. Paul, Minnesota, is the policy Intern for American Forests, a nonprofit and the nation’s oldest conservation organization, working to inspire and advance the conservation of forests.

James Gathje, a SJU senior double-majoring in economics and political science from Richmond, Minnesota, is the membership intern with the Council on Competitiveness, a non-profit whose goal is to increase the United States' economic competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Samantha Givens, a CSB junior double-majoring in Hispanic studies and political science from Ventura, California, is the outreach intern for Advocacy Project, a nonprofit focused on assisting marginalized communities around the world.

Lydia Glen, a CSB senior majoring in political science from St. Cloud, Minnesota, is the research and strategic intern for the American Federation of Teachers, educators who champion fairness, democracy, economic opportunity and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for students, families and communities.

Lesly Gonzalez-Barragan, a CSB junior double-majoring in political science and theology from St. Paul, Minnesota, is interning for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Tim Havenaar, a SJU senior double majoring in economics and political science from La Grange Park, Illinois, is the policy intern at the office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Makenzie Horrigan, a CSB senior majoring in biochemistry from Oak Park, Minnesota, is the international affairs intern at AHRI, a trade association representing heating and cooling companies, working to have a global influence on performance standards, certification programs and industry information and be a leading, recognized voice in the development of environmental and energy policy impacting the industry.

Quinton Johnson, a SJU senior double-majoring in history and political science from Marshall, Minnesota, is interning for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Brendan Klein, a SJU senior double-majoring in economics and political science from Bloomington, Minnesota, is interning at American Youth Policy Forum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, providing learning opportunities for policy leaders, practitioners and researchers working on youth and education issues at the national, state, and local levels.

Mackenzie Kuhl, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Dubuque, Iowa, is the government relations intern for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, a leader in the global movement for justice and peace, which educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation.

Jacob Lucas, a SJU senior majoring in political science with a pre-law focus from Los Angeles, is the national events intern at the League of United Latin American Citizens, an organization advancing the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs.

Nicole Newman, a CSB junior double-majoring in biochemistry and political science from St. Paul, Minnesota, is interning for Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy, focused on advocacy and being the policy voice for children with cancer in national debates on research, new therapy development and health care reform.

John Nguyen, a SJU senior double-majoring in economics and Hispanic Studies from Shakopee, Minnesota, is interning for the Washington Office on Latin America, a leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights in the Americas.

Kristen Ober, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Savage, Minnesota, is interning for Stones' Phones, a political consulting and strategy firm specializing in constituent communication.

Anna Peichel, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Fairfax, Minnesota, is interning for Platform, an organization working to ensure young women’s voices influence political decisions about their bodies, lives and futures.

Cassidy Pelkey, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Baxter, Minnesota, is interning for U.S. Rep. David Young of Iowa. 

Laura Precourt, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Plover, Wisconsin, is the management intern for SGI (She Grows It), an urban agriculture, research and public affairs consulting firm. She will be doing consulting work with urban farms in D.C.

Dominik Ruch, a SJU senior majoring in political science from Minneapolis, is interning for David Turch and Associates, a government affairs organization.

Sameera Sheikh , a CSB senior majoring in political science from Brooklyn, New York, is the development and executive associate Intern for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.

Danica Simonet, a CSB senior double-majoring in German and peace studies from Nerstrand, Minnesota, is the policy associate intern for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.

Leul Solomon, a SJU senior majoring in accounting and finance (with a concentration in finance) from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a research intern with Exiger Diligence, Inc., which provides global public records research and investigative due diligence to leading financial institutions and multinational corporations.

Jarol Torres, a SJU senior majoring in political science from San Pedro, California, is interning for U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán of California.

Elizabeth Varberg, a CSB senior majoring in political science from Camas, Washington, is a marketing intern with the Smithsonian Institution.

Kyle Westra, a SJU senior double-majoring in economics and political science from Bellflower, California, is interning for the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee.

Nathan Williams, a SJU senior majoring in economics from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is interning for the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Strategic Planning.