Internship Experience

Gain valuable, real-world experience.

LBJ School students are able to integrate classroom knowledge with real-world application in an experience that prepares them for a successful career in public affairs.

The LBJ Internship Experience

The LBJ School requires all Master's students to complete a 300-hour policy internship before they graduate. This summer internship allows students to apply their knowledge to policy issues in the public, private or nonprofit sectors while developing their skills in their policy area of interest. LBJ School students pursuing summer internships are eligible to apply for financial support through the internship fellowship program.

LBJ students attend a Texas Exes job fair event

Varied Internship Positions

Students work with the career management team, other LBJ School staff, faculty, alumni and their own network to identify an appropriate internship experience that matches with their policy area of interest and career goals.

A recent snapshot of organizations where our students have interned: A recent snapshot of organizations where our students have interned:

Master of Public Affairs

Americans for Financial Reform

Austin Transportation Department

Battleground Texas

Budget Analyst

California Center for Sustainable Communities, UCLA

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Capital Metro Transportation Authority

Center for Transportation research

Central Health

Central Texas Food Bank

Children at Risk

Children's Hospital Association of Texas

City of Austin Public Works, Office of Performance Management

City of Buda, Texas

City of Cedar Park

City of Cedar Park, Parks and Rec

City of San Antonio

Cohear, Center for American Women and Politics

Communities Foundation of Texas

Congressman Lloyd Doggett

Congressman Michael McCaul

Deans for Impact

Dell Medical, Department of Psychiatry, (TCHATT)

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School - UT Austin

Dress for Success Austin (RGK CONNECT)

Education Strategy Group (ESG)

Every Texan

Financial Health Pathways Texas

Foundation Communities

Future Now

General Land Office

General Land Office - Community Development and Revitalization

General Services Administration

Global Disinformation Lab

Go Austin Vamos Austin

Hudson River Trading

Infosys Foundation USA

Jones Mandel

Land Use Solutions

LBJ School
Mexican American Legislative Leadership Foundation

National Development Council

National Park Service Business Planning Internship

Occupational Safety & Health Administration - Department of Labor

Office of Congressman Jim Himes

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and City of Austin Office of Police Oversight

Office of Representative Vikki Goodwin

Office of State Senator Royce West

Office of Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez

Office of the City Auditor- City of Austin

Pacific Forest Trust

Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center

Prison and Jail Innovation Lab

Raise Your Hand Texas

Refugee Services of Texas

Representative Tan Parker, Texas House of Representatives

Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT)

Strategic Partnerships

Sustainable Jersey (EDF Partner)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Teamsters Local 2010 (UC Berkeley Labor Summer Program)

Tesla

Texas A&M System Government Relations

Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers

Texas Appleseed

Texas Black Caucus Foundation

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Texas Department of Health and Human Services

Texas Exes

Texas General Land Office

Texas Public Policy Foundation

Texas Senate Finance Committee

Texas Solar Energy Society

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Legislative Internship Program

Tokyo Electron America

Travis County Planning and Budget Office

Trellus Foundation

U.S. Government Accountability Office

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Urban Leaders Fellowship

White House Council on Environmental Quality

Woodberry Associates

World Bank Group

Master Global Policy Studies

Argonne National Laboratory

Bread for the World

Bureaucracy Lab, DIME, World Bank

Câmara de Comércio e Indústria do Estado de Rio de Janeiro

City of Austin Auditors Office

City of Austin, Public Works

City of Buda

Cooper /Smith

Defense Intelligence Agency

Deloitte in Africa 

Department of State

Department of State, US Embassy Dar Es Salaam

Girl Forward

Global Environmental Institute

Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

India Brazil Chamber of Commerce

Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston

International Justice Mission

International Organization for Migration

Libyan Embassy in Spain

NDIA/McCombs Business school

Organization for American States - Department Against Transnational Organized Crime

Rocket Companies, Rocket Legal

Salem Center

Secretary of Environment of Nuevo León, Mexico

State Department and Refugee Services of Texas

Strauss Center

Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of Homeland Security/Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit

Texas Legislative Internship Program

Texas Senate

The Nuclear Threat Initiative

The Solidarity Center

Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ann Howard

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service, Office of the Administrator

UNESCO

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

United States Agency for International Development

United States Army War College

University of Texas Global (Dis)information Lab.

UTPD Victims Advocacy Network

Well Aware

World Wildlife Fund

 

Internship Report Summer 2022—Spring 2023

MGPS Internships by Location

MGPS Internships by Location

Location Count
Texas/Remote 29
Out of State 5
Washington, DC 9
International 11
Total 54

 

MGPS Internships by Sector

MGPS Internships by Sector

Sector Count
Public/Nonprofit 42
Private 12
Total 54
   

 

MPAff Internships by Location

MPAFF Internships by Location

Location Count
Texas/Remote 90
Out of State 14
Washington, DC 11
International 1
Total 116

 

MPAff Internships by Sector

MPAFF Internships by Sector

Sector Count
Public/Nonprofit 93
Private 23
Total 116
   

 

 

Intern Spotlight

Shahd Elbushra (MPAff '21); Internship: Civil Rights Corps

Shahd Elbushra (MPAff '21)

"Civil Rights Corps has allowed me to re-envision the future of effective policy that challenges the criminal-legal system. It has shown me that there are lots of progressive organizations and people that center racial justice and equity on the path to abolition of the carceral system. I see myself working in a collaborative environment alongside progressive political leadership and advocacy groups to dismantle a system that has continuously oppressed Black and Brown communities for decades. I think purposeful, informed policy is critical now more than ever to reshape public safety in our communities and CRC has shown me how to work toward this."

 

Nick Barracca (MGPS '21); Internship: UN Foundation

Nick Barracca (MGPS '21)

"The UN Foundation (UNF) helps the UN mobilize ideas, people and resources on a variety of issues, including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access and U.S.-UN relations. My team is a part of the Executive Office and supports work that may not match the portfolio of other teams and the UNF family of alliances.

During my internship, I monitored developments at the G7, G20, IMF and World Bank group because these international financial institutions are responsible for the majority sustainable development and the COVID-19 response financing. I would write up daily news reports and summary memos about latest think tank events, research and policy developments that would go on to leadership. Also, I supported two experts on my team and their work on emerging technologies and subnational SDG initiatives."

 

Sisto Campana (MGPS-DC '20); Internship: United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration — Office of Policy Development and Research

Sisto Campana (MGPS-DC '20)

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis, the Department of Labor has been at the epicenter of the government's response. I have been working closely with the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs to complete congressional requests from both chambers of Congress that range from technical assistance on bills related to the CARES Act, to individual casework helping workers receive unemployment compensation. It has given me a better understanding of how government operates and relies on executive agencies for their expertise in helping craft legislation. It is very fulfilling knowing that my office and my work has impacted legislation that potentially affects millions of people throughout the country."

 

Reena Birch Fram (Dual Degree MPAff/MBA '22); Internship: Walmart, Inc.

Reena Birch Fram (Dual Degree MPAff/MBA '22)

"The business community has immense influence in the way policies are formed and how our society functions. Working with my team at Walmart and learning how they drive forward their sustainability efforts was an incredible experience. Although the internship was remote, my colleagues were generous with their time, provided me with a challenging and relevant project, and made sure I had a fun summer networking with interesting people!"

 

Katrina Parkey (MPAff/MBA '21); Internship: City of Austin, COVID-19 Finance Response

Katrina Parkey (MPAff/MBA '21)

"I am working directly with City of Austin staff across nearly all city departments, in addition to private consultants who were hired on to help with the COVID-19 response. Managing relationships with so many people across so many departments has been a challenge, but everyone is working together to keeping our communities safe and healthy. While tracking finances, I've strengthened my Excel skills and learned more about auditing techniques. While serving directly onsite, I've learned a lot about improving operational processes to make sure that each site is operating as efficiently and effectively as it can. It is a privilege to do work every day that is having a direct impact on Austinites."

Additional LBJ students/alumni on this COVID response team:
Marianne Richardson (MGPS '20)
Tomi Ogungbamigbe (MGPS '20)
Mary Hausle (MPAff '20)
Amelia Hetherington (MPAff/MBA '21)

 

Are you a company looking to hire an LBJ student? Email our Career Management team: lbjcareers@austin.utexas.edu.

 

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Connect With Us


Office of Career Management

Location
SRH 3.104

Phone
512-471-4292

Email
lbjcareers@austin.utexas.edu


Student Professional Development

Location
SRH 3.104

Email
lbjprofessionaldev@austin.utexas.edu