Blog: IGS Fellows in the World

I spent my last day in D.C. at my cousin’s house on the outskirts of Georgetown. I slept on the couch, and the blinds had been left open overnight, so when the morning sun made its way across the wooden floors to wake me from my slumber, the first thing I saw on my final day was...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: A Symbol of D.C.: Turning an Intimidating Environment into a Beautiful Experience

To preface, this blog post was created for a university audience and captures some of my personal experiences in Washington, D.C. as a Matsui Center Washington Fellow of the Fall 2025 UCDC Cohort.

In Washington D.C., I met peers who inspired me,...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: A Tight-Knit City Full of Policy, Statecraft, and Competing Ideas

As I left the Rayburn House Office Building for the last time, I walked to the front of the Capitol and took a moment to pause. It truly felt surreal knowing that my internship has come to an end. Watching political events unfold and seeing these historic buildings on the news is...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: The Sense of Purpose That Came with Each Day

Greetings from DC:

My time in D.C. has been a one-of-a-kind experience that I am thrilled to share with my peers. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be spending my Spring semester interning for the United States Hispanic Chamber of...Read more about UCDC Spring 2026: “Do it Afraid”: Becoming a Changemaker by Mobilizing Neighboring Communities

Greetings from DC!

I’m currently a Membership Intern at the World Affairs Councils of America, which is a non-profit that does global affairs education through its network of 90 councils across the country. On a day-to-day basis, I keep track of...Read more about UCDC Spring 2026: My “Magnum Opus”: Using Code for Creative Problem-Solving

Greetings from D.C.

As a congressional intern at the United States House of Representatives, my day-to-day responsibilities vary. They include providing support to staff members, assisting constituents with their issues, logging concerns into the...Read more about UCDC Spring 2026: Finding Connections and Community in D.C.

Hi everyone,

My internship on the Field and Constituencies team at the National Immigration Forum involves varied daily tasks, primarily supporting the Badges and Faith branches of the organization. For the Badges program, I research law enforcement...Read more about UCDC Spring 2026: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the Heart of the Nation

Serving as a Fellow at a national civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. means learning quickly that policy work does not pause, even when everything around it feels unstable. During my time at the LULAC National Office, my fellowship unfolded amid a government shutdown,...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "Still Here": Holding Ground and Advocating at LULAC Through a Government Shutdown

This fall, I served as a Policy and Research Fellow at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Office, the largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, founded in 1929. LULAC’s legacy of advocating for educational equity, civic...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "Aquí 'stoy": Tracing Roots and Resiliency while Interning at LULAC in Washington, D.C.

Few experiences capture the tension of DC quite like a government shutdown. Witnessing firsthand the frustration and resilience of our representatives has come with both uncertainty and confusion. While it is deeply disheartening and disappointing to see programs halted,...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: Finding Resilience in Chaos and Uncertainty: Supporting Constituents During a Historic Government Shutdown

I currently work at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, a community space for queer folks. They provide food, community events, basic needs, and generally, a space for people to exist. People who come in are encouraged to think of the space as a sort of “second living room.” I am...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "A Second Living Room": Supporting Safe Community Spaces in the Humming Humidity of DC

I’ve definitely hit the ground running. As a National Security, Intelligence, and International Affairs Research Intern at the Institute of World Politics, I’ve been mentored by an Ambassador, numerous professor-practitioners, a defense contractor, and inspiring academics. I’ve...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: Full and Busy, but Beautiful: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and Finding Wonder in Washington, D.C.

My morning began with a mix of excitement and curiosity as I made my way to the Matsui Center at UC Berkeley. I felt an undeniable energy in the room, a sense that this was the beginning of something meaningful. I found myself chatting with new faces...Read more about 2025 Democracy Camp in Berkeley Journal

When I began my Gardner Fellowship on a swampy September day, I was hopeful of building meaningful professional relationships, learning the ins and outs of Congress, and maybe even making an impact. But I was also fearful of the unknowns that lay ahead – Would my mentor and I get...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Making My Mark: A Gardner Fellow's Capitol Hill Story

Ever since I began my journey in public service as a teenager, I have been deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through community advocacy across all levels of government. Over time—and especially through my Gardner Fellowship—I’ve come to understand that...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Justice: My Journey in Local Public Service

As a 2024–2025 John Gardner Public Service Fellow, I had the opportunity to work at the Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley, where I contributed to the Abundance Project—an ambitious research initiative focused on equity in public investment across California. For someone like me, a...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Reimagining Public Investment Through Lived Experience

On Friday, May 23rd, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. sharp. It was the day I'd been waiting for since I had graduated a few days before. I was flying to Washington D.C. for the Democracy Camp program! I messaged the group chat with my cohort last night if anyone wanted to...Read more about 2025 Democracy Camp in DC Journal

Spending a semester in Washington, D.C., was a defining chapter of my academic, professional and personal growth journey, one that has reshaped my aspirations for the future. From snowy days to the vibrant bloom of spring, my time in D.C. was truly an unforgettable experience....Read more about UCDC Spring 2025: Blossoming in Spring - How A Semester in D.C. Reaffirmed My Commitment to Public Service and Advocacy

Looking back at my semester at Washington D. C., I feel very grateful that I had this wonderful opportunity. My first post may have been critical of my internship because of its misalignment with its mission (for context, please read my first blog), but after much thought and...Read more about UCDC Spring 2025: Concluding a Profound Experience at D.C.

Being in Washington, D.C. this spring and experiencing an administrative transition while interning at a federal agency was unlike anything I had anticipated. Although there were challenging moments, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C. It was one thing to...Read more about UCDC Spring 2025: In the Midst of Generational Change, Still Motivated to Say 'Yes' to Public Service