This quarter, PPPA students have been hard at work in the community through their internship placements. In this first of two posts, we share updates from four of our interns.
Lily Wong, pictured with Congressman Denny Heck.
Lily Wong
Major: Law and Policy, Human Rights minor
Placement: Office of Congressman Denny Heck
“I’m really enjoying the internship. Continue reading
This quarter, four UW Tacoma students have been hard at work in our state’s Capitol. Andy Brown, Monica Cysensky, and Barbie Weaver are participating in the Washington State Legislative Internship program, and Adán Espino, Jr. is UW Tacoma’s student lobbyist in Olympia. As the quarter draws to a close, we’re checking in with these students to learn about their experiences so far.
Andy Brown, a Law and Policy major, is working for Senator Steve O’Ban, Legislative District #28.
Andy Brown, pictured at the Supreme Court Bench.
Andy says, “This experience has given me an entirely new outlook on what it takes to enact new legislation and be a part of the Washington State Legislature. It is a very fast paced Continue reading
UWT grads are increasingly walking the halls of the state capitol! This year, three former students are employed as Legislative Assistants for members of the legislature. All three got their feet wet in state politics through their participation in our internship courses. Anna Nepomuceno (far left) is the LA for Rep. Jake Fey (D-27th District). Anna graduated last year with a major in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Derek Zable (second from left), is the LA for Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45th District). He graduated five years ago, and also majored in PP&E. Nick Russell (far right) works in Sen. Hans Zeiger (R-25th District). He too was a PP&E major, and graduated three years ago. Last month the three alums met with our current interns in the state legislature. Shown here are Barbie Weaver (center) and Andy Brown (second from right). Not shown are interns Adan Espino and Monica Cysensky.
This quarter, four of our students have interned in various locations, most in Tacoma, but one in far-flung Azerbaijan! Aaron Guzman (left), is graduating this quarter in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. This quarter he was an investigative intern with Pierce County’s Department of Assigned Counsel, working with alleged criminals during pre-trial procedures. “I’ve been learning a lot about investigations,” Aaron says. “My supervisor provides us with real world experience, and I enjoy going to court houses and jails. Now more than ever, I’m interested in a career in federal law enforcement.” Aaron’s supervisor Glenn Glover calls Aaron a “great asset,” and was glad to have him join their team.
Meanwhile, across the globe, Emma Watkins (senior, Politics, Philosophy and Economics) spent last summer in Azerbaijan, a country nestled between Armenia, Russia, Georgia, and Iran. Continue reading
Bethany Johnson
This spring, four Law and Policy students interned with different parts of our criminal justice system. Each provided valuable services while also gaining first-hand experience. Both Bethany Johnson and Margarita Varaksa interned with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office; Margarita worked in Pierce County’s Juvenile Court while Bethany was in its Property Crimes division. Amy Magnuson worked down south with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office. Among other things, Amy filed petitions and notices of hearings, prepared Orders of Non Compliance and Bench Warrants, handled discovery, and logged trial exhibits. Kanani Palafox worked for Pierce County’s Department of Assigned Council. Kanani found her internship to be provocative. Reflectin
Margarita Varaksa (right)
g on her experiences, she commented: “I often sit with alleged criminals, and find myself wondering about their lives. How did they get here? What circumstances in their lives led them to being incarcerated? How are their families affected by their choices? And some moments at work strike a chord with me, and I realize it is what I want to do as a career. Being an advocate and a voice for justice is something I continue to be passion about.”
Kanani Palafox
All four students met their major’s capstone requirement by writing a substantial policy paper corresponding with their weekly internship obligations. Their supervisors were all thrilled with the extra support the four provided to each of their offices. “She’s a keeper!” said Amy’s supervisor Wendy Ireland. “As good as any of our paralegals.”
Four PPPA students undertook internship this winter to fulfill their major’s capstone requirement. Stepan Abramov, a senior Law and Policy student, interned with the Tacoma Housing Authority. “As a intern with THA, I learned first hand how dependent many residents are on government funding. The smallest change in policy can create serious consequences in the lives of thousands.” Stepan wrote a paper examining inclusionary zoning policies. Maria Reyes is about to graduate with a degree in Law and Policy. She interned with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, one she called “the best experience. It made me figure out what type of law I want to practice”. Maria’s paper examined the legal history of indigents’ right to counsel. Anna Nepomuceno is majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and spent the winter quarter working in Olympia with the Washington Student Association, 
Maria Reyes
a lobbying organization for institutions of higher education. Her paper examined the shortcomings in higher ed policy for the growing population of non-traditional students. Ruddy Salas is also in his senior year, majoring in Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies. He spent his winter quarter with the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel. His paper investigated the history of mass incarceration in the U.S., and the effect policy reform in Washington has had on incarceration rates. Congratulations to all!
Seven UWT students are spending this winter quarter interning with the State Legislature. These UWT students were among 70 selected for this annual internship opportunity for students attending Washington colleges. Those selected are paid and earn credit while gaining a first-hand up-close look at the legislative process. All interns work full time alongside legislators and their staff to learn about public policy. The internship also builds students’ professional skills as they serve the citizens of Washington State.
DeAnn Dillon, a senior majoring in Ethnic Gender and Labor studies, interns with Senator John McCoy.
Madison Edmiston, a senior Arts Media and Communication major, works for the Senate Democratic Caucus. Zach Fish (senior, Politics, Philosophy and Econo
mics (PPE)), is a Session Aid for Senator Doug Erickson. Amy Welch, another PPE senior, interns for Sen.Joe Fain. Malisa Wei splits her time between Sen. Reuven Carlyle and Sen. Steve Conway, and is graduating this winter in PPE. Chris Johnson studies Law and Policy, and is interning with R
ep. Sherry Appleton and Rep. John Lovick. Finally, Jessi Williams (senior in Law and Policy) works in the offices of Rep. David Sawyer and Rep. Eileen Cody. Amy Welch sums up her own experience this way: “This internship has brought bot
h challenges and rewards. I’ve learned how laws are made, what influences the process, and how hard our elected officials work. It’s inspired me to do work that matters and to think of others before myself.“
Applications for next year’s Legislative Internship Program are due in October 2017.
Colin McCann came to UW Tacoma in the fall of 2011 as a transfer student from TCC. After taking advantage of the Running Start program in his high school, he was only 19 when he first arrived on campus. A self-professed “political junkie,” McCann chose to major in PPE (Law & Policy track), with a Human Rights minor. He was also a member of the Global Honors Program.
McCann attributes a great deal of his intellectual, personal, and academic growth to his experiences at UWT, noting that nearly everyone he encountered—from professors to fellow students—challenged him “intellectually, and encouraged me to broaden my perspectives.” He claims that he can’t speak highly enough of UWT’s culture of learning and encouragement of academic discourse. “It helped me develop into the person I am today.” Continue reading
The PPPA internship program provides wide ranging opportunities for majors to get hands on experience in a setting outside the classroom. PPPA interns work in settings that are related to government, political campaigns, and public policy. This quarter interns are working on congressional campaigns and in law firms. Taylor Rome is working on congressman Denny Heck’s reelection campaign, Alina Gnatyuk is working on Congressman Derek Kilmer’s reelection campaign, and Sandra Kruh is working at the Barokas Martin and Tomlinson law firm. Another exciting internship opportunity is the Washington State Legislative Internship program, which is open to all UW Tacoma students. We currently have intern hopefuls interviewing for the legislative internship program, and the successful candidates will intern full time in Olympia during Winter quarter. There will be more internship opportunities for PPPA students during Winter and Spring quarters. PPPA interns get practical experience, an extension of their academic studies, and complete their Capstone requirement with the internship. All PPPA students interested in doing an internship during Winter or Spring quarters should contact Professor Ann Frost at acfrost@u.washington.edu.
UW Tacoma Junior and PPE major Taylor Rome is spending Fall quarter completing an internship in the PPPA internship program. Rome is an intern for Denny Heck, congressman for the 10th congressional district. Initially elected in 2012, Heck mounted his first re-election campaign this fall. During this fall’s election season, Rome’s work as an intern has put her at the center of the action.
Each day of Rome’s internship sees her actively involved in the re-election effort. In its effort to “Get out the Vote,” the team gathered data on people they called and on whose doors they knocked. After entering the information they assessed who they still had to remind to send in their ballots. Rome was then part of determining which voters they would target for contact, including people with a good voting record, those who have been identified as supporters, and likely supporters of the candidate. Rome then hit the streets or the phones to put the plan into action. “Canvassing, or door-belling as we call it in Washington, is one of the more exciting and important things on a campaign because it is face-to-face voter contact,” says Rome.
According to Rome, one of the best parts of this internship has been contact with various people, including her co-workers and voters. The internship has provided Rome with an opportunity for learning that is unparalleled. Says Rome, “Every day I learn something new about how the average voter thinks and what shapes their opinions. I have had eye-opening conversations with people at the door, and ones that have left me shaking my head. When you work on a campaign you adopt all of the staff as your family. You are with them all day every day for months and create a bond that you can’t compare to anything else.”
This internship has rounded out Rome’s education at UW Tacoma, giving her hands on experience that has enhanced her classroom learning. The internship has been particularly helpful in opening doors for Rome and creating career opportunities. Although she doesn’t know precisely what career path she will choose, Rome has learned that she belongs in this field. She recommends this type of work to others, saying that the contacts she has made and the experience she has gained will be of great use to her in the future.