Government, Military & Public Policy Internship Spotlights
From government offices and environmental agencies to nonprofit organizations and military research institutions, Dickinson students spent the summer gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of fields. These internships allowed them to apply classroom learning in professional settings, develop valuable skills, build networks and explore potential career paths.
Aaron Plummer '28
Majors: political science and philosophy
Internship Site: Pennsylvania Capitol, Harrisburg, Pa. (1st half), District Offices, Lebanon and Womelsdorf, Pa. (2nd half)
How did you obtain this internship?
I pursued government relations opportunities by actively networking with alumni through the LinkedIn Dickinson Career Community. Through that outreach, I conversed with an alumnus who had connections with Senator Gebhard’s office. He generously referred me, and after a phone call with the chief of staff, I was offered the internship.
Briefly describe what you did for the internship on a day-to-day basis.
The internship was essentially divided into two experiences. During the first half at the PA State Capitol, my responsibilities included drafting constituent letters and legislative correspondence, attending committee meetings and Senate session to track policy developments, conducting research on policy initiatives and contributing to legislative drafting. I didn’t love the commute, but the Capitol is a beautiful place to work, and it was extremely educational! The second half of the internship was spent in the local district offices, assisting with constituent communication and casework, as well as the planning and execution of community outreach events.
How has this internship better prepared you to excel at Dickinson and beyond?
This internship strengthened my networking skills with government professionals and increased my confidence in communicating with constituents, including those who struggled to clearly express their needs. I gained a deeper understanding of the legislative process, from drafting bills and amendments to seeing how lobbying and advocacy shape policy outcomes. Working in both the Capitol and the district offices also helped me develop stronger professionalism, adaptability and problem‑solving skills. Although my primary long‑term interest remains pursuing law school, this experience showed me how law, government and business intersect. I now feel more prepared to engage in policy conversations, communicate with diverse groups and navigate complex organizational processes both at Dickinson and in future academic or career settings. I also met some amazing people and enhanced my professional network.
What advice would you offer to peers considering an internship?
My advice is to take networking seriously, because a lot of opportunities in government and politics come from the connections you build. Use LinkedIn, reach out to alumni and don’t hesitate to ask people about their career path—at times it felt like my part-time job! You just never know who may introduce you to a key person or help open a door.
At the same time, your classes remain important. Political science provides the foundation for understanding how institutions and policy work, while an internship shows how those concepts apply in real situations. The combination of classroom learning and practical experience is what makes everything come together.
Beyond your internship, what is one aspect of your Dickinson experience that has made the biggest impact on your personal, academic or professional growth?
One of the most meaningful parts of my Dickinson experience has been working in the admissions office and serving as a Liberty Cap tour guide. Both roles have helped me grow as a communicator and taught me how to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds, skills that translated directly into my internship, especially when working with constituents. In admissions, I gained confidence in speaking with families, answering questions clearly and representing the college in a professional manner. Giving tours also helped me become more comfortable with public speaking and thinking on my feet. These experiences influenced my interpersonal style and prepared me for environments where communication, empathy and clarity matter, including government and law.
Marisa Rogers '28
Majors: law & policy and Spanish
Internship Site: Keep Our Republic
How did you obtain this internship?
An email with the posting from the academic department coordinator for political science.
Briefly describe what you do for the internship on a day-to-day basis.
On a day-to-day basis I draft op-eds and and media coverage for the organization, conduct research about election operations in North Carolina counties, design media templates for new initiatives (primarily on Canva) and organize and keep track of subscriber and donor contact information.
How has this internship better prepared you to excel at Dickinson and beyond?
This internship has allowed me to apply what I have learned in the classroom in a real, hands-on setting. It has given me opportunities to write about and research various opportunities related to law and policy. I have also improved my writing and time-management skills.
Have you had other internship experiences previously, and do you plan/hope to intern again in the future?
I had an internship in spring 2026 working as a communications intern for Isabelle Harman, an Independent candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives. I do plan to have another internship in spring 2027 during my time studying abroad in Malaga, Spain.
Beyond your internship, what is one aspect of your Dickinson experience that has made the biggest impact on your personal, academic or professional growth?
One aspect that has made the biggest impact is Dickinson's commitment to global engagement. Through its language requirements, global diversity courses and plethora of study-abroad options, I feel that Dickinson has made me a more well-rounded and globally minded individual.
Todd Klinger '27
Majors: computer science and data analytics
Internship Site: U.S. Army War College
How did you obtain this internship?
I initially applied through Handshake for a spring internship analyzing data from military wargames, which are strategic simulations used to prepare for potential future events. After I completed that internship and built strong professional relationships at the U.S. Army War College, my colleagues recommended me for a different internship there for the summer.
Briefly describe what you do for the internship on a day-to-day basis.
I meet regularly with a small team, analyze survey data from courses and create reports that communicate the results. I also develop dashboards, websites and data visualizations showing the career paths of former interns.
How has this internship better prepared you to excel at Dickinson and beyond?
It has taught me a great deal about professional expectations and how to apply the skills I have learned at Dickinson to real-world projects. I have gained experience analyzing survey data, creating reports and dashboards, building websites and presenting information clearly to different audiences. Most importantly, the internship has given me greater confidence in my abilities and a clearer understanding of the types of careers I may want to pursue after graduation.
Have you had other internship experiences previously, and do you plan/hope to intern again in the future?
Yes, I interned at the National Institutes of Health during summer 2025, where I created interactive documentation for the NBIA Cancer API to help developers more easily access and use a large collection of cancer imaging data. In spring 2026, I interned at the U.S. Army War College, where I analyzed large amounts of raw wargame data to identify patterns and turn the information into meaningful insights. I currently work for Dickinson developing a student-focused chatbot that helps users navigate campus resources while emphasizing accurate, reliable information. I hope to intern again so I can continue exploring different career paths before deciding what kind of work I would like to pursue after graduation.
What advice would you offer to peers considering an internship?
An internship is definitely worth pursuing if you have the opportunity, although I recognize that finding one can be challenging. I recommend starting early and applying broadly. It is also important to build relationships with professors, alumni, classmates and previous supervisors, since personal and Dickinson connections can lead to opportunities that may not otherwise be available to the general public (non-Dickinson students).
Beyond your internship, what is one aspect of your Dickinson experience that has made the biggest impact on your personal, academic or professional growth?
Being surrounded by intelligent, hardworking students has helped me develop academically while forming friendships and connections through classes, residence halls and sports clubs such as volleyball, squash and badminton. My study-abroad experience in New Zealand also expanded that community beyond campus. It gave me a greater appreciation for other areas of the world and inspired me to continue traveling, meeting new people and exploring the world throughout my life.
Ty Chermsirivatana '27
Major: political science
Internship Site: U.S. Army War College
How did you obtain this internship?
Response to posting and letter of rec from existing Dickinson faculty (Craig Nation).
Briefly describe what you do for the internship on a day-to-day basis.
Working within the Department of Military Strategy, Planning & Operations (School of Strategic Landpower), I help develop strategic wargaming scenarios through a Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) lens, learning how the Air, Space, Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Special Operations Forces domains function individually and interact, then translating that into game mechanics that realistically capture their capabilities and constraints. The first half of the internship was research-focused, studying each domain and existing wargame frameworks to inform scenario design. The second half has been playtesting with senior military leaders. A typical day now involves running several rounds of the wargame with them and taking notes on where mechanics break down or feel unrealistic, then adjusting before the next session.
How has this internship better prepared you to excel at Dickinson and beyond?
This internship has really changed the way I communicate, especially around senior leadership. When you're presenting something to people who have spent decades in the military, you don't get to ramble. You say what the problem is, what the tradeoff is and what you think should happen, and that's it. There's no room for hedging or trying to sound impressive, because they'll just ask you to get to the point anyway. Learning to strip an idea down to what actually matters, and being ready to defend it on the spot, is a skill I don't think I would have picked up sitting in a classroom.
Have you had other internship experiences previously, and do you plan/hope to intern again in the future?
Right now, alongside my role at the Army War College, I'm also working as a researcher in Dickinson's Deep Neural Networks Lab, where I'm investigating wide-beam search for grammar-constrained decoding in small language models. Before that, last year, I interned as an AI governance intern at Hearst Corporation in New York City, where I compiled technical reports on frameworks like the NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act and ISO 42001 and built automated tools using Azure Functions and GPT-5 to aggregate and summarize competitive cybersecurity, and technology signals for stakeholders.
What advice would you offer to peers considering an internship?
It's a tough market out there, so being deliberate about how employers see you matters. Optimize your LinkedIn, highlight any experience you've had whether on campus or off and find a clean resume template. Most applications go through automated tracking systems before a human does, so having a clean and readable resume really matters!
Beyond your internship, what is one aspect of your Dickinson experience that has made the biggest impact on your personal, academic or professional growth?
The biggest impact on my growth at Dickinson has come from the faculty. Professors here know your name, and they actually make time for you outside of class, whether that's talking through a paper, giving career advice or just checking in on how things are going. A few of my professors have gone out of their way to connect me with opportunities, write recommendations or point me toward research and internships I wouldn't have found on my own. They invest in you as a person and that level of support has shaped how I think about mentorship and has made me more comfortable reaching out and asking for help.
Francesca LaRoche '28
Majors: environmental studies and law & policy
Internship Site: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) at the Rachel Carson State Office Building.
How did you obtain this internship?
I participated in PA Outdoor Corps in high school, which is a partnership between SCA and DCNR, so I receive the PA Outdoor Corps monthly newsletter, which includes DCNR job and internship listings. My dad also found the internship posting online and sent me the information.
Briefly describe what you do for the internship on a day-to-day basis.
I have greatly enjoyed this internship because every day looks different. When in the office, I complete a variety of tasks, such as researching grant opportunities for preserving Civilian Conservation Corps group camp buildings and collecting information on existing infrastructure at Army Corps of Engineers recreational sites. In the field I attend meetings with my supervisor at various state parks (I've been to 36 parks so far this summer), tour group camp sites and travel to parks to collect surplus IT equipment. Additionally, I assisted with a trail development project at Pennsylvania’s newest state park, Laurel Caverns.
How has this internship better prepared you to excel at Dickinson and beyond?
I have strengthened my networking and communications skills, which I can utilize to build connections with Dickinson professors and alumni. I have also discovered a multitude of possible future career paths that I previously did not know existed, such as policy and environmental justice opportunities at DCNR and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), along with DCNR resource ranger and manager trainee positions.
Have you had other internship experiences previously, and do you plan/hope to intern again in the future?
I have previously been a Young Naturalist Intern at Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (summer 2022) and a social media intern at the Pittsburgh composting company AgRecycle (summer 2025). I will be interning with Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services this upcoming fall semester. The internship is remote, but Fair Shake has offices located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. I'm looking forward to completing this internship in the fall, and I hope to continue interning in the future whenever opportunities arise.
What advice would you offer to peers considering an internship?
I would suggest applying for positions even if you do not meet 100% of the qualifications. If you are interested, apply and see what happens; the worst they can say is no. Going through the application process might give you valuable interviewing experience and practice creating your resume or writing cover letters, even if you are not offered the position. Applying also helps to get your name in front of employers and allows you to start building connections that might be important in the future. Just go for it and be confident in your previous work experience and abilities.
Beyond your internship, what is one aspect of your Dickinson experience that has made the biggest impact on your personal, academic or professional growth?
I have greatly valued how being at Dickinson has enabled me to explore my many interests instead of confining me to a specific area. Having the ability to double major in environmental studies and law & policy while minoring in Italian provides me with the flexibility to develop an expertise in diverse academic fields, shaping me into a well-rounded candidate. Dickinson’s liberal arts environment also encourages growing outside of the classroom, which has empowered me to continue my lifelong love of music by joining the college’s jazz band in addition to pursuing a campus job at the College Farm as a student farmer and biogas worker.
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Published September 25, 2026