Eight WWU Students Selected for 2016 Legislative Internship Program in Olympia

Eight Western Washington University students have been selected to participate in the 2016 Legislative Internship Program in Olympia this winter.

John Boone of Walla Walla, Katrina Brzozowski of Bellingham, Katherine Galambos of Woodinville, Bobby Hall and Peter Lindgren of Olympia, Renee Kester of Sedro-Woolley, Joseph Pejovic of Edmonds, and Jaleesa Smiley of Renton will spend winter quarter working at the State legislature and gaining firsthand experience of the political process.

During the internship the students work for members of the Washington State House of Representatives or Senate. They learn first-hand about public policy and build real-world professional skills while working in legislators’ offices during the legislative session. Interns also participate in seminars and workshops with state officials, policymakers, journalists and lobbyists, offering networking opportunities and a global view of the political process. 

Hall and Kester, both Political Science majors, have been assigned to the Senate. Hall will be working with Senator Kevin Ranker, and Kester will be working with Senator Kirk Pearson. Boone, a Political Science and Journalism double major, and Brzozoswki, who is working on an Interdisciplinary concentration, have also been assigned to the Senate. Boone will be working with Senator James Hargrove, and Brzozowski will be working with Senator Rosemary McAuliffe.

Pejovic, a Political Science major; Smiley, an American Cultural Studies major; Lindgren, a History major; and Galambos, a Political Science and Journalism double major; have all been assigned to the House. Pejovic will be working with Representative Christine Kilduff and Representative Terry Nealey. Smiley will be working with Representative Eric Pettigrew and Representative Jessyn Farrell. Lindgren will be working with Representative Melanie Stambaugh and Representative Timm Ormsby. Galambos will be working with Representative Larry Springer and the House Democratic Caucus Communications.

Another Western student, Dane Austreng of Kelso, has been accepted as a winter intern in Olympia with the Secretary of State’s Office.

For more information contact Todd Donovan, Western Washington University professor of Political Science, at Todd.Donovan@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3018.