In the spring of 2022, Morgan Chudd (PolSci’23) spent a semester studying in Washington, D.C., with the CU in D.C. program. While interning with the governmental relations firm Potomac Advocates as a research analyst, she also gleaned lifelong professional experience.
“The things I learned in D.C. will stick with me for the rest of my life,” said Chudd. “This was not my first experience in the workforce, but it was different from anything I had experienced. Aside from my internship, the history in the city was enough to keep me busy for four months.”
In 2010, CU Boulder’s political science department started the CU in D.C. summer program, offering students leadership and career opportunities in Washington, D.C. By 2013, the program was offering semester-long programming.
The program, which originated in the College of Arts and Sciences, is now facilitated out of the Office of Undergraduate Education and available to students campus-wide. Since its inception, close to 400 students have participated in the internship program and have returned with a robust professional network — and sometimes job offers.
In spring 2022, CU Boulder partnered with The Washington Center (TWC) to operate the on-site component of the program. The partnership allows students to access TWC’s network of internship partners in the areas of government, nonprofit, media, business, education, law, sciences and the arts.
Key highlights of the CU in D.C. program are internship opportunities with members of the Colorado congressional delegation and connecting with Forever Buffs in the area.
Dale Farrand (AeroEngr’93), leader of the Forever Buffs D.C. alumni chapter, oversees the CU in D.C. Mentorship Program, which connects current students with Buff mentors in the D.C. area. Students shadow their mentors in the workplace and work closely with them on goal-setting, networking and resume development.
Dylan Yachyshen (Econ, IntlAf’21) lives and works in D.C. He has mentored three CU in D.C. students who were interested in his fields of foreign affairs and national security.
“I’ve been able to help and mentor current students looking to pursue careers in similar fields and give them advice about D.C., which — as I know from personal experience — can be hard to find sometimes,” Yachyshen said.
Illustration by The iSpot/Michael Glenwood Gibbs
