Dean’s Internship Program Gives Undergraduate Public Policy Students Hands-On Experience

The inaugural program connects students from Georgetown’s Joint Program in Public Policy with internships in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

This fall, undergraduates in McCourt’s Joint Program in Public Policy are putting their coursework into practice at internships across Washington, DC. Some found their roles through the McCourt School’s new Dean’s Internship Program, which connects students with placements at partner organizations, while others pursued opportunities on their own.

Launched this semester, the Dean’s Internship Program placed nearly 20 undergraduate students in internships, including at McCourt research centers such as the Evidence for Justice Lab, the Massive Data Institute and the Better Government Lab. McCourt’s downtown location, near Capitol Hill and many global organizations and federal agencies, allows students to intern during the semester while keeping up with their classes.

McCourt is grateful to partners at American Clean Power, American Promise, Blue Lotus Strategies, the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, the Center for Responsible Lending, New America, ResearchED, Teneo, the Washington, DC, Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Washington, DC, Office of the State Superintendent of Education for giving students opportunities to connect their classroom learning with experiential learning in the field. 

Experiential learning for undergraduates

Han Li (JPPP’27) and Matthew Benjamin (JPPP’27) are interning at Teneo, a global CEO advisory firm that operates across strategy, communications, management consulting and the top challenges businesses face. In their roles, which they secured through the Dean’s Internship Program, they are responsible for research projects for some of the firm’s clients. The research they conduct will turn into client deliverables. Two of their recent projects have included analyzing the economic structure of Guyana, and another involving state and local data center policies.

Li and Benjamin both say, “It’s been a privilege and joy to work together as friends, classmates, and colleagues on the same project.” In particular, they have been learning from their joint research on data centers. “The opportunity to share ideas and feedback is incredibly valuable to each other and our work,” they say.

Through the Dean’s Internship program, Daisy Xu (JPPP’27) interns for the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), a nonprofit research and policy organization that promotes responsible lending practices. Xu’s work includes conducting archival research for the Julian Bond Institute, a national research organization founded by CRL. She also contributes to the Institute’s 2050 Survey, a nationally representative study that examines the systemic barriers and financial lives of Americans across different racial and generational lines.

Dylan Balleisen (JPPP’27) is a legislative intern in Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)’s office. As an intern, Balleisen helps draft co-sponsor recommendations for legislation and assists with constituent correspondence. One of the most enjoyable parts of the internship, for Balleisen, has been getting to know his colleagues in the office. “My team has all been very welcoming and helpful in letting me learn more about the work of the Congresswoman,” says Balleisen.