Leandro Idiarte: Urban Scholars Intern
This summer, Leandro Idiarte was an Urban Scholars Intern with the City of Minneapolis in the Human Resources - Talent Acquisition division through the Urban Scholars program. Read the below Q&A to learn more about his internship experience.
What were your primary responsibilities?
I worked with the Talent Acquisition team to support and familiarize myself with hiring processes. This included coordinating job postings with different departments, reviewing how applications are screened, and ensuring that openings comply with labor & union agreements & policies. I participated in interview panels, where I asked applicants questions and observed how the city evaluates candidates through a fair & structured process.
What projects did you work on?
A project I led was designing and launching the "Legacy of the Lakes" employee recognition award submission system. I created the design, logo, & layout, and helped draft the information that goes into the system. I partnered with the IT department to complete the technical build. This resulted in a permanent platform that employees will use to nominate colleagues for annual awards.
What did you learn from your internship?
I learned how government hiring works, from the way job postings are created to how candidates are screened and selected. I gained skills in project design, cross-departmental collaboration, and communication with staff & leadership. I'll also carry forward the developmental side of the program, such as how to self-advocate, work with empathy, and grow personally & professionally in the workplace.
What was your biggest takeaway?
Government's about people as much as process. On one side, there are rules and systems that need to be followed, and on the other, there are people trying to make those systems fair for everyone. Watching that balance taught me about patience and responsibility. I also learned that communication is everything. You can have the best system in place, but if people aren't working together or listening to each other, it won't work.
How have your experiences prepared you for this internship?
My political science and psychology courses helped me approach the internship with an understanding of institutions, governance, and human behavior. Serving as a Student Senator at the University of Minnesota, and as a former Student Senate President at my community college, prepared me to collaborate with peers, communicate effectively, and navigate diverse backgrounds & cultures. My experience as an immigrant from Brazil gave me a strong foundation of resilience and perspective that shaped how I approached this internship. These experiences made it easier to connect what I was learning in the classroom with what I was seeing inside city government.
What are your career goals?
My long-term goal is to work in law & public service, hopefully in international law. This has been in my mind since I was a kid and is the reason I came back to school.
This internship gave me the chance to see the government from the inside. I watched how things work, decisions are made, and people keep things moving. At first, I thought government was mostly about rules and systems, but what stood out to me was the people behind it. I saw how much teamwork & communication matter and how important it is to treat people with fairness & respect. I left this experience understanding that patience, responsibility, and collaboration make the work possible.
How did POL 3080: Internship in Politics or Government enhance your experience?
POL 3080 encouraged me to connect my internship experiences directly to political science concepts. The weekly reflections, informational interview, and emphasis on linking practice to theory made me more intentional. Instead of just doing the work, I was thinking about the bigger picture and how it related to my academic & career goals. I appreciated Professor Soper's feedback throughout the term, which was a highlight of the course and added value to my learning.
What advice would you give other students?
Be open and willing to put yourself out there. Ask questions, even the ones that seem simple, because those often lead to the best conversations. Take initiative whenever you can, since the more you do, the more you learn. Surround yourself with people who think differently from you. Listening to other perspectives makes you reflect on your own, and sometimes it changes them, sometimes it makes them stronger, but it always deepens your understanding. Real growth comes when you stay curious and open.
Anything else to add?
This internship gave me the chance to work on projects I am proud of and learn from mentors who truly cared about my growth. Ryan Hess and Joseph Sapa-Nance were central to that experience. They guided me, challenged me, and encouraged me to keep moving forward. Their support shaped how meaningful this internship was, and the lessons I learned from them will stay with me as I continue in school, my career, and my life.
Composed by Sophia Paschke, communications associate.
