Athens, Ga. – A record number of participants in the University of Georgia Washington Semester Program-21-have headed to the nation’s capital. They began internships in congressional offices, nonprofit organizations and think tanks on Jan. 11.
“This is an outstanding start to our third year, and the class is comprised of exceptional students who have secured incredible internship opportunities.I look forward to working with all of them and learning of their experiences in the capital,” said Don De Maria, director of the Washington Semester Program and the Learning Communities Initiative, which was launched under the auspices of the UGA Office of the Vice President for Instruction in spring 2008.
The group of juniors and seniors participating in the program this spring will complete 12 credit hours of coursework and work at least 30 hours a week with the internships.
Every fall and spring, a UGA faculty member teaches a three-hour course related to public policy, government and current trends. Guest lecturers from UGA and D.C. lead a three-hour seminar on work and culture in D.C.The other six credit hours can be applied to internship, directed study and/or research courses through the student’s academic department.
Susan Haire, associate professor of political science at UGA, will teach a course entitled “Politics and Public Policy in the United States.” The course will examine the policymaking process with a focus on the role of national political institutions. This is the third time Haire has taught in the program, including the inaugural semester.
Speakers who will present during the seminar include three UGA alumni.They are Sydney Jones (AB ’03) from the Office of the Speaker of the House; Randy Nuckolls (BSA ’74, JD ’77), from McKenna, Long & Aldridge; and Valerie Elston (AB ’04) from Levick Strategic Communications, who also serves as president of the D.C. Dawgs, the Washington D.C. chapter of the UGA Alumni Association.
An added feature of the program is the involvement of the D.C. Dawgs in academic and cultural activities with the students.The members serve as mentors, present lectures about their D.C. experiences or host events.
“This is a unique opportunity for these students and I am encouraged that students from all majors can participate in this life-changing experience,” said Laura Dunn Jolly, interim vice president for instruction and dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The priority deadline for fall 2010 applications for the Washington Semester Program is March 1.First consideration is given to students who apply by then.Applications will be accepted after the deadline until all program spaces are full.
More information on the UGA Washington Semester Program is available at http://www.uga.edu/dcsemester.
The spring 2010 participants in the Washington Semester Program are:
Name / Hometown / Major(s) / Internship placement
Elizabeth Curry Andrews /Atlanta / broadcast news, comparative literature / The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Ashley Bartlett / Longwood, Fla. / international affairs, history / U.S. Department of State
Britney Leah Bear / Atlanta / international affairs / Center for American Progress
Emily Louise Bolton / Hoschton / international affairs / Office of Congressman John Barrow
William Francis Brown IV / Roswell / broadcast news, political science / NBC News Meet the Press
Leslie Coots / Marietta / political science / Office of Sen. Johnny Isakson
Tyler Geoffrey Duggins / Powder Springs / political science / McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP
Caulder Alan Harvill-Childs / Marietta / political science / Office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss
Dana Lynn Higgins / Adairsville / political science, international affairs / The Dershowitz Group
Lauren Rachel Howard / Norcross / international affairs / Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation
Dustin Huffman / Powder Springs / political science / Office of Congressman Phil Gingrey
Archil Japaridze / Atlanta / international affairs, Spanish, Latin American and Caribbean studies / Glover Park Group
Catherine Mae Land / Lawrenceville / finance / International Trade Administration
Layla Lester / Dacula / business management / Office of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Zoe Oreck / New Orleans, La. / history, public relations / Office of Sen. Mary Landrieu
Emily K. Prince / Little Rock, Ark. / political science, Spanish / Office of Sen. Blanche Lincoln
Sabrina Ragaller / Montgomery, Ala. / international affairs, economics / U.S. Department of State
Beth Sadler / Savannah / history, sociology / Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Caitlin Sanders / Marietta / public relations, sociology / National Geographic Society
Jill Turner / Tyrone / international affairs / Office of Sen. Kay Hagan
Jenna Ziesenhene / Warner Robins / international affairs, psychology / The White House