Sheila Willamowski: Adventures in D.C.

Sheila Willamowski (SR Political Science) has reported from her Washington Center internship in the nation's capitol, and has many adventures to relate. During her first week, she attended a memorial for September 11th along with 2008 Republican nominee John McCain, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and House Minority Leader John Boehner, who she works for. Speaker Pelosi ended the event by leading the gathering in singing "God Bless America."

Willamowski also ran into Joe Wilson, the Representative from South Carolina who caused an uproar when he loudly interjected "You lie!" during President Obama's Address to a joint session of Congress. She and her fellow new interns in his office also met with Boehner, identifying herself as being from Representative Jim Jordan's district. Boehner talked with the interns for 30 minutes and Sheila reported the thrill of getting to spend an uninterrupted 30 minutes with a public figure who is in constant demand. This was the first of many meetings with the Minority Leader that she has had as part of her duties.

Touring the capitol and the White House have also been part of her experience. She enthusiastically reported on her chance to take the Dome Tour of the capitol building, where the picture above was taken and she also was able to tour the White House. At one point, while she was in the capitol on business, she even had Vice President Joe Biden walk by her, with Senator John Kerry and Speaker Pelosi. Another high point came when she and other interns toured the West Wing of the White House, which included the Rose Garden, Press Briefing Room, and the Oval Office. She even met the First Dog, Bo Obama!

Willamowski is in D.C. working as an intern in Representative Boehner's office. Students majoring in Political Science are encouraged to complete an external internship as part of their program, and Shiela took an active role in making this happen. While considering an internship, she met a Boehner staffer at a political dinner where she learned more about internship opportunities in the Minority Leader's office. She realized that she would love to have such an experience, sent in her application, and was accepted.

She is also taking coursework and is being housed through the Washington Center, which places students in a variety of positions in the nation's capitol and elsewhere, including in locations abroad. Students are housed in a secure facility with other interns near public transportation, and receive the opportunity to add valuable practical experience to the first rate education they get from our professors.

The HPJ Department encourages its majors to take advantage of these tremendous opportunities to both broaden their horizons and to gain the experience and contacts that will help them as they move into their careers.