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 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.

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:

Master of Public Affairs American Cancer Society Austin Music Foundation Austin Water Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Groundwater Conservation District Caritas of Austin Case Alitas Central Health Chicago Council on Global Affairs Child & Family Research Partnership (3) Children's Defense Fund City of Austin City of Austin Office of Design & Delivery City of Austin Office of Performance Management City of Austin, Office of the City Auditor (4) City of Austin Public Works City of Pflugerville Congressional Budget Office Darfur Women Action Group Deloitte (6) Development in Gardening Disability Rights Texas EDP Renewables (Energias de Portugal) FairVote Federal Emergency Management Agency Festival Beach Food Forest Government Accountability Office HDR HeadCount House of Representative Celia Israel Housing Authority of the City of Austin Human Rights First JP Morgan LBJ School—Energy Systems Transformation Group Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Mexican American Legislative Caucus Mission Waco NARAL Pro-Choice Texas National Coalition of STD Directors New Wave Feminists Office of City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan Office of Mayor Steve Adler (2) Office of the Attorney General of Texas Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (RICE) Strauss Center for International Security and Law Super 7 Girls Teacher Retirement System of Texas Texas Appleseed Texas Education Agency (2) Texas Health & Human Services Commission, Medicaid & CHIP Services Texas Health & Human Services Commision, Office of the Inspector General Texas Health and Human Services Commission Texas House of Representatives, Office of Cesar Blanco Texas House of Representatives, Donna Howard Texas House of Representatives Texas House of Representatives, Representative Sarah Davis Texas Legislature Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Public Policy Foundation Texas Rural Funders Collaborative Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes Texas Workforce Commission (2) The Century Foundation Travis County — Planning and Budget Office (2) Women's Refugee Commission

Master of Global Policy Studies: Armed Conflict Location Event Data Ashoka Asian Development Bank Bread for the World Institute Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs Center for Migration Studies Center for National Interest Children's Defense Fund Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), The German Parliament Deloitte Africa Development in Gardening (DIG) GirlForward Global Financial Integrity Global Terrorism Database GTD Start Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society Kreddha Libyan Embassy in Spain MIRRA One Track International Partnership for a Secure America Pionero Philanthropy Port Houston Stratfor The International Civil Society Action Network The Mitre Corporation United States Trade & Development Agency U.S. Department of State (5) U.S. Military Delegation to NATO HQ World Wildlife Fund—U.S. Headquarters

Internship Report Summer 2019—Spring 2020

MGPS Internships by Location

 

Location	Count
Texas	4
Out of State	7
Washington, DC	12
International	11
Total	34

MGPS Internships by Sector

Sector	Count
Nonprofit	16
Private	6
Public	12
Total	34

MPAff Internships by Location

Location	Count
Texas	68
Out of State	4
Washington, DC	4
International	2
Total	78

MPAff Internships by Sector

Sector	Count
Nonprofit	12
Private	9
Public	56
Total	78

 

MPAff Salary
Unpaid	16
Paid	52
Unreported	10

Sector	Average Salary*
Nonprofit	$30,804
Private	$66,795
Public	$30,266

^*Salaries are annualized

 

Intern Spotlight

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

"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

"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

"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.

"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

"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.