D.C. Summer Study Program returns for its 41st year

Eleven 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 via remote internships.

This is the 41st year of the Summer Study Program, designed and operated by CSB/SJU faculty and staff in the political science department.

The program provides students an opportunity to work in a Washington, D.C., 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 and receive academic credit.

In addition to the work experience and completion of coursework, this summer’s program director, Dr. Christi Siver, associate professor of political science at CSB and SJU, conducts online seminars and arranges supplemental meetings with alumnae/i and other professionals. The program is coordinated each year by Sheila Hellermann, department coordinator for political science, sociology, peace studies and accounting and finance.

Pictured top row (left to right) - Drew Wilds, program director Dr. Christi Siver, Katie Sohm
2nd row - Brigid Smith, Morgan Carlson, Drew Engel
3rd row - Makaela Turner, Connor Kockler, Madeline Orozco
Bottom row - Robert Karlson, Laurel Poole, Edison MacDonald

The 11 students (listed alphabetically) include:

• Morgan Carlson, a CSB senior political science major from St. Cloud, Minnesota, is the development and executive associate for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.
• Drew Engel, a SJU junior biology major from De Pere, Wisconsin, is the international affairs intern at AHRI, a trade association representing heating and cooling companies, working on global performance standards, certification programs and industry information including trade and tariff issues with U.S. and international agencies and foreign embassies.
• Robert Karlson, a SJU senior political science and French double-major from Maple Grove, Minnesota, is an executive associate, interning for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.
• Connor Kockler, a SJU senior political science major from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, is an outreach associate, interning for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.
• Edison MacDonald, a SJU senior mathematics major from Minneapolis, is a program support intern for Voices for a Second Chance, which focuses on bridging the gap from incarceration to community, providing services that ensure successful connection to family, community, and resources.
• Madeline Orozco, a CSB junior political science major from Minneapolis, is interning for the Federal Communications Commission - Office of Workplace Diversity, which focuses on promoting a more diverse and equal workplace environment, as well as enabling employees to work in an anti-discriminatory environment.
• Laurel Poole, a CSB senior political science major from Longview, Washington, is interning at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she is working with a fellow in the International Security Program, focusing on the defense industry and Asia security challenges.
• Brigid Smith, a CSB junior political science major from River Falls, Wisconsin, is the outreach intern for Advocacy Project, a nonprofit focused on assisting marginalized communities around the world.
• Kathryn Sohm, a CSB senior English major from Minneapolis, is interning for Nuclear Threat Initiative, which designs innovative threat-reduction projects for governments, working to prevent catastrophic attacks and disruptions by nuclear, biological, radiological, chemical and cyber means.
• Makaela Turner, a CSB senior political science major from Ramsey, Minnesota, is the government relations intern at AHRI, a trade association representing heating and cooling companies, working on the development of and advocating for environmental and energy policy and legislation at the state and federal level which impacts the industry.
• Drew Wilds, a CSB senior political science and peace studies double-major from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is an outreach associate, interning for Jubilee USA Network, a non-governmental organization advocating for debt relief for developing nations.