A student in the Political Science program, Kayla Young completed her internship with the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Conservation and Water in Washington DC. She had this to say about her internship experience:
"I interned at the U.S. Department of State (DoS) in the Office of Conservation and Water (ECW) in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). ECW/OES is responsible for coordinating U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world's ecologically and economically important ecosystems, as well as formulating policies to address international threats to nature. During a 10-week internship, I gained first-hand experience with international environmental policy through contributions to a myriad of projects, including: efforts to disrupt and eliminate wildlife trafficking, increase knowledge and awareness of trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services, assess multilateral development bank project proposals for environmental impacts, and compile information on the status, challenges, and efforts regarding transboundary water resources and management. I initially applied to ECW/OES to fulfill GJS graduation requirements and to work alongside experts on international environmental policy, and it has been one of the most fulfilling decisions I have ever made, both professionally and personally. Through engagement with projects, skill and knowledge-building opportunities for DoS interns, and interaction and feedback from ECW/OES staff, I gained invaluable skills and experience that complement my coursework and will undoubtedly prove beneficial as I move into a career. I absolutely encourage anyone interested in an internship to reach out to GJS faculty or alumni and pursue internships that fit your passions."