Blog: IGS Fellows in the World

Washington D.C. has been a whirlwind of change; a refreshing escape from the mild weather and dryness in California, an exciting opportunity to be at the epicenter of the nation’s capital, and a thrilling eye-opener into career opportunities in public service and the federal government. As a...Read more about Transformation and Change: First Time in the Nation’s Capital!

Although this year’s University of California Washington D.C. program was conducted remotely due to COVID-19, it remains one of the most enriching experiences of my academic career. At the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, some of the top immigration lawyers in the country...Read more about UCDC: An Enriching Academic Experience at the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration

Though my internship was conducted virtually, I was still able to learn a great deal about the field of international human rights. I obtained a deeper understanding of the fast-paced work culture of a Washington law firm. While working at Perseus Strategies, I was given the great privilege of...Read more about My Semester in UCDC: An Introduction to a Career in International Human Rights

My time with UCDC was a brand new life experience. With a pandemic going on, I could not spend time in Washington D.C. and meet in person with classmates and colleagues. However, the virtual setting did not stop me from having a fruitful experience. Over the first couple of weeks, it was...Read more about An unforgettable (virtual) UCDC experience

Dr. Garcia Bedolla’s background and knowledge about career paths for public service were incredibly inspiring. Garcia Bedolla grew up in Los Angeles, as the daughter of Cuban...Read more about 2021 Democracy Camp Journal

Lisa Garcia Bedolla’s insight into public service careers was incredibly inspiring and moving. Dr. Bedolla was the child of Cuban refugees, who grounded...Read more about 2020 Democracy Camp Journal

My UCDC experience is one I will never forget. Although the semester was online, my professors and the events held by the UCDC program coordinators made me feel as if there was no difference. My class, “The US Supreme Court,” taught me about important cases in the Supreme Court, and I got to...Read more about An online Semester in the Washington D.C. Program

Ever since I visited DC in eighth grade as the big, end-of-the-year school field trip, I knew instantly that I wanted to move back. Despite my semester being cut short due to COVID-19, I am so grateful for having experienced UCDC. Through the program, I’ve made close friends from all different...Read more about A taste of life and politics in DC

On a cold Saturday in February, I visited the city of Philadelphia, PA. As a native Californian, my first discovery in the city was the bitter chill of a sunny winter day. Next, I learned that Philadelphia is a timeless, historically rich city. This I learned when I toured Independence Hall, the...Read more about The Room Where It Happened

Although my time in Washington D.C. was cut short due to coronavirus, the ten weeks I spent there allowed me to grow academically, professionally, and socially. At the National Center for Health Research, I was exposed to research on topics such as medical device and pharmaceutical drug safety...Read more about Senior Year in DC: A Rewarding Last Semester

Participating in UCDC as a Matsui Washington Fellow gave me my second opportunity to intern in Washington, DC. I spent my first internship at the U.S. Department of State in Summer 2019 and my second internship at the U.S. Agency for International Development in Spring 2020. In both roles, I was...Read more about Say YES to packing your bags to move across the country

IGS Alumni Snapshot: Kyle Simerly, Public Information Officer of Caltrans (Cal in Sac 2011), with IGS’s Kelly Jones

On March 14, Caltrans deployed 700 electronic road signs to remind drivers to take precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. The signs currently flash...Read more about Blog: IGS Alums in Public Service

As a Berkeley senior, I spent my last semester in DC as a Matsui Fellow. This experience has truly helped me jumpstart my professional career in the museum field. I interned with the National Collections Program (NCP) within the Smithsonian Institution during the UCDC program, and was...Read more about Caring for Collections within the Smithsonian Museums

My time in DC absolutely flew by! Having been back in California for a little over two weeks, I already miss the DC Spring weather, my UCDC friends, and my internship. The remainder of my semester was jam-packed with events, ranging from touring the Capitol Building to attending the Cherry...Read more about An Unforgettable Experience

I’ve been amazed at how fast the semester has flown by. With just over a month left, I’m feeling the pressure to take advantage of my time left in DC. But looking back, the last two months have been packed with work and class, and I’m impressed that I have managed to do as much as I have outside...Read more about A city built on networking

I feel like being in this program is a life changer. In just 2 months, I've already adapted to this so-called DC lifestyle. I wake up at exactly 8 in the morning now even during my days off (without setting an alarm), sipping black coffee while I walk to work and checking twitter and news...Read more about The D.C. Lifestyle

Every city has a word, and Washington DC’s is policy. No matter what you’re passionate about, there is someone here doing something related to it, and usually in policy. People here know they are making history.

Washington is a very different place than Berkeley. There are things about...Read more about The District Feels Like Home

The move to D.C was not as smooth as I expected it to be. I’m used to driving 2 hours from the Bay if I’d want to see snow not like here, where I don’t even have to step outside the Washington Center to see a bed of snow. Every time I go grocery shopping, I immediately start to think about...Read more about Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

As I boarded the plane at San Francisco International Airport, my mind was racing with pending uncertainties. Would I like my internship? Would I enjoy living in such a politically charged city? Would I freeze to death? Fortunately, my transition to the DC weather and the city itself was...Read more about Community, Unity, and Respect

From previous UCDC students and co-workers I heard that there was a snowstorm for over a week in the Winter of 2016. I could not help but get excited to experience my first snowstorm and potential snow days stuck at home. To the dismay of many students, this year’s “winter” passed by, just...Read more about End of a Chapter