What Would I Do?

The Leadership Forum

The Washington Center seeks not only to produce future leaders in their professions, but also well-informed citizens, who are public-spirited and civically engaged. The Leadership Forum is a structured set of activities that give interns opportunities to understand leadership and the opportunities they have to contribute to their communities locally, nationally and internationally. Students hear and engage with distinguished speakers – including cabinet members, ambassadors, journalists, members of Congress, and others – who introduce them to current public policy debates and the organizations and people who shape them. They have opportunities to visit embassies and learn about international conflicts. Other programming helps students appreciate the many opportunities they have to give back in their own ways through service to their communities.

President's Lecture Series

Students hear the perspectives and experiences of distinguished leaders from the business, nonprofit and government sectors.

At the end of each lecture, students have the opportunity to ask questions. Attendance at all presidential lectures is required.

Four to six lectures are scheduled each semester. They are held on Monday afternoons.

Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill, sponsored by Verizon

Students hear from and meet with Capitol Hill policymakers, including Members of Congress and their staffs.  The meetings provide opportunities for personal interaction and detailed discussions of policy, politics and legislation affecting students’ lives and communities.  Each student will attend one session.

Embassy Visits Program

Official spokesmen/women from foreign governments brief students on current international issues. Recent visits have provided opportunities to hear multiple perspectives on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the conflict in Kashmir, and U.S. policy toward Cuba.

Small Group Activities

Program advisors arrange activities to suit the interests of their small groups; includes site visits, briefings, tours, workshops, walking tours, and other activities.

Civic Engagement

Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to involvement with organizations or electoral participation.  It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem, or interact with institutions of representative democracy. 

Students will develop a civic engagement project in consultation with their program advisor and peers, taking advantage of the many resources available in Washington, D.C.  Students will have the opportunity to play a role in effecting change in an area of personal or professional concern. 

Internship Portfolio

Each intern completes a portfolio (those in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program prepare a customized version).  Components include a statement of learning goals, résumé, internship defense letter, analyses of lectures,informational interviews and other writing or work assignments.  Together, these components document, analyze and reflect on the internship experience. They are completed and reviewed week by week. The final product provideshome institutions, prospective employers and graduate and professional schools impressive evidence of what interns have accomplished.

 

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