Elizabeth Vissers

Elizabeth is a sophomore majoring in Political Science. She interned at the Department of State in the Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

"During the Spring Semester of 2011, I participated in Berkeley's UCDC Program as a Matsui Scholar. I lived in the UC Washington Center, located in a great area of D.C. just blocks from the White House, together with other students in the program. The Center provided apartment-style housing and a fun, interactive community complete with social events, field trips, and a weekly Monday night speaker series. Living in the heart of Washington, D.C. allowed students to explore the monuments, museums, events, and all else that the city has to offer.

"The other aspect of the program was an internship of the student's choice. I worked at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, with the Office of Environmental Policy. There, I cooperated with a team to complete a range of substantive and interesting work pertaining to issues such as sustainable development, green economy, international oil pipelines, and the United Nations Environment Programme. I wrote formal material on a sensitive and important U.S. foreign policy issues, drafted memos and issue papers, analyzed the OECD's draft reports on green growth and indicators and compiled U.S. comments on them, and created charts, read-outs, and presentations.

"I also organized large meetings for inter-agency, civil society, and private sector groups, and created briefing books for the official U.S. delegation to the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council and Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. Furthermore, I assisted at high level conferences and meetings including the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Meeting, the US-Australia Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2011 Conference. I also attended various meetings and conferences as the representative from my office. I helped team members with various projects, which gave me a broad and illuminating view of the different work that the State Department and the U.S. government does. Overall, my internship was an excellent and enjoyable learning experience."

Meghan Ballard

Megan just completed a summer program in Cambridge, England. She is majoring in political science and minoring in ethnic studies. Ballard interned with a Berkeley alumna in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.

Sara Johnson

Sara, an English major, interned at The Christian Science Monitor. She is particularly interested in narrative journalism.

David Velasquez

David, a social welfare major and education minor, interned with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, based in the Department of Education.

Melissa Blaustein

Melissa is a senior majoring in American Studies and interned for the House Office of New Media.

Conrad W. Crump

Conrad is a senior majoring in sociology and interned for Rep. Alcee Hastings (D - Florida).

Elijah Herr

Elijah is a senior majoring in Political Economy with a minor in Public Policy and interned for Sen. Wyden.

Davi Lang

Davi is a senior double majoring in Political Science and American Studies. She interned for Rep. Pelosi.

Gricelda Gomez

Gricelda, a senior majoring in Business Administration, interned for Representative Grace Napolitano.

Amanda Kelsey Loh

Amanda, a junior majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in Public Policy, interned for Senator Christopher Dodd.

Erin Pangilinan

Erin, a senior double majoring in Asian American Studies and Ethnic Studies, interned for Representative Zoe Lofgren.

Katerina Robinson

Katerina, a junior double majoring in Political Science and Theater, interned for Representative Mike Honda.