From Downtown Austin to Downtown New Delhi: LBJ Interns Return with Diverse Experiences

Only two weeks into school and first-year students are already thinking about internship possibilities for summer 2001. Second-year LBJ students just back from their internships shared their experiences at a recent debriefing.

"It's dusty. It's hot, like 112 degrees hot every day. It's still a nice place to live," said Wesley Wilson, who spent his summer in New Delhi, India with the U.S. State Department. He worked in the embassy's public affairs department handling media-related services.

Four other LBJ students joined Wilson working for the State Department. Suzannah Sennitti also spent the summer in New Delhi. Kris Mack went to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Andy Fouche worked in Skopje, Macedonia, and Judith McGinley went Washington to work for the Bureau of Research and Intelligence.

"India is a place that hasn't been Westernized yet. . . . It's a fabulous experience," said WIlson.

In addition to working on reports about information technology and minority access to the media in India, Wilson said he had the opportunity to travel throughout India during his internship stay. He said the summer was a time of transition for the embassy, which gave him an opportunity to explore issues that interested him. "At times I was the second most senior American in my division," he said.

Students who spent their summer with the National Parks Service also had an opportunity to take charge of their work. A pair of summer interns--one policy and one business student per team--went to each national park to research the financial situation for a report to Congress.

"You are totally in control of the project," said Phil Schlessinger, who traveled to Olympic National Park in Washington. "You have a lot of flexibility."

One of three LBJ students working for the Park Service, Schlessinger was joined by Concetta Bencivenga, who was assigned to Redwood National Forest, and Fred Richardson, who went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

During their short stays, the interns have to learn as much as they can about the park, which involves speaking to members of the park staff. Schlessinger said that trying to pin down park staff during their busiest season taught him lessons in diplomacy and patience.

The National Park Service offers housing to its interns at the park sites. Schlessinger said he feels lucky to have been sent to Olympic. "When you accept the internship, you don't know where you are going to go," he said. "You have to be really flexible and have an open mind."

While some internships offered opportunities for travel, some students found their summer adventures in Austin.

"You don't have to be a math person to work in the auditor's office," said Lisa Sheppard of her summer spent working for the Texas State Auditor's Office. The office examines the financial and policy structure of state agencies.

Sheppard was one of four LBJ students who spent the summer in the State Auditor's Office. The others were Ricky Garcia, Ben Salinas, and Emily Trevino. "The auditor's office is very committed to the internship program, which is a plus," Sheppard said.

Sheppard received auditor training similar to a full-time staff member. She said the auditor's office goes out of its way to give interns a taste of department manager and director jobs. Interns had the opportunity to shadow directors and met weekly with members of senior management to discuss the internship.

"If you are interested in (exploring a policy subject), they will help you do that," she said. "They are very open to feedback."

Sheppard said she is continuing to work in the auditor's office part-time during the fall semester.

September 13, 2000

News and Events • Fall 2000 News Briefs

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September 19 , 2000

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