TWC interns from California were given the opportunity to meet with U.S. Senator, Dianne Feinstein and her legislative staff during her weekly Constituents breakfast in the Hart Senate Office Building.  The students, who attend the University of San Diego, Dickinson College and University of California-Irvine, discussed various concerns and policy issues such as:

TWC interns from New Hampshire met with former their former Governor and current U.S. Senator, the Honorable Jeanne Shaheen and members of her legislative staff at the Hart Senate Office in Washington, D.C.  The students, who attend Fitchburg State University, University of Massachusetts—Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Suffolk University, and Stonehill College, spoke with Senator Shaheen and her staff about their current internship sites and policy issues including: veterans, unemployment and immigration.

The Washington Center hosted Former Vice President, Dick Cheney, for the Alan K. Simpson-Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series (SMLS). Only a month after his heart transplant, Dick Cheney was the featured speaker during a one-hour discussion moderated by senior producer of C-SPAN, Steve Scully.

After meeting with the President of Brazil, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Franciso Sanchez, met with TWC students participating in the Governors and Prudential programs at TWC's Residential and Academic Facility. He discussed key topics such as competitiveness, innovation, economic growth and access.

[View photos of the event on our Flickr channel]

TWC interns from Massachusetts met with Representative Barney Frank’s legislative staff at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.  The students, who attend the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Bridgewater State University, and Dean College, spoke with the congressman’s staff about various concerns and policy issues concerning their district, such as the new transit line in the fourth district and the fisherman’s initiative. One student also gave the staff a letter for the congressman to sign.

TWC's Alumni Networking Reception took place at the Residential Academic Facility. The networking event included a diversity of alumni and current spring interns, in addition to one of the most unique speakers that TWC has ever hosted: matchmaker and 1984 TWC alumna, Christie Nightingale, who runs Premier Match. Premier Match is an upscale, matchmaking service with locations in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

Career Path

Spring interns enjoyed their second SMLS of the semester, which featured the power couple, Jim and Kate Lehrer.

Jim Lehrer has quite the resume, working as the executive producer and host of "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS. Jim has also moderated 11 presidential debates and has won numerous awards for his work in journalism.

Kate Lehrer has written four novels in addition to short stories, essays and book reviews. She has also been a frequent panelist on the Diane Rehm Show's "Reader's Review" on National Public Radio.

TWC alumni enjoyed a brown bag lunch with the Postgraduate Professional Development Program (PPDP). TWC welcomed two alumni from 2005, Michael Venn and Katie O'Connell. Michael currently works as the technical assistant to the executive vice president for Electronic Systems at Lockheed Martin, while Katie has been a media relations associate at NAFSA since September 2008.

[View the spring 2012 Programming album on our Flickr channel]

Frank Newport, Ph.D., Gallup's Editor in Chief and the immediate past president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, talked about polls and polling during presidential election campaigns.

[View program on C-SPAN]

About the Road to the White House Course

Janet H. Brown is the executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, a tax-exempt organization that was established in 1987 to sponsor and produce presidential and vice presidential debates during each general-election period. Brown talked about presidential debates.