Nadia Joseph: Policy & Legislative Affairs Intern in the Governor's Office
How did you find this internship?
Word of mouth.
What were your primary responsibilities?
Working in the Governor's Office, I had a range of responsibilities from setting up meetings to writing bill briefings for the Governor. Much of my role included following legislation through various committees and negotiations to determine if legislation the Governor supported/opposed was moving through the process. Specifically, I worked with legislation in the areas of elections, state government, and pensions and retirement, though I also helped with other legislation. Additionally, I provided assistance to the policy advisors in our office and regularly worked on small research projects for them.
What have you learned from this internship?
After this internship, I have a much better understanding of how the legislative process works from behind the scenes and what it takes to pass legislation. Many aspects of the process surprised me and I enjoyed learning all that I could about the role of the Governor's Office in creating legislation.
How has this internship prepared you for your future career?
The people I worked with throughout my internship have taught me so much about potential work opportunities and how to achieve them. They have always been there to give me advice and help me work towards future goals. I know I can reach out to them for career advice in the future and I'm grateful to have had such amazing mentors.
What have been your favorite parts of this internship?
One of my favorite parts of this internship was attending bill signings within my department. Getting to see how my work was benefitting Minnesota and experiencing the celebration of bill signings made this internship feel meaningful. My favorite signing I attended was at Paisley Park where we celebrate the legacy of Prince. I grew up near Paisley Park, so it was wonderful to see the benefit Prince provided to the community I grew up in.
How has POL 3080 Internship in Politics or Government enhanced your internship experience?
Without POL 3080 I would not have had the ability to complete my internship! Being a full-time student and a student worker takes a lot of time, so this class allowed me to take time from my class schedule and put it towards this experience. The readings were useful to my understanding of my internship and Professor Soper is always super helpful when issues would arise.
What advice would you give other students interested in this type of internship?
Apply! You might feel underqualified but failing to apply is the only way to guarantee you don't get the internship. Also, reaching out to office staff to learn more about their roles and what it is like to work for the office always helps. This way you know what you are getting yourself into and they might be able to give you advice on what skills the office is looking for.
