Seniors Excited to Begin Internships in Washington, D.C.

Andrew Colford ’22 and Declan McLoughlin ’22 are looking forward to gaining firsthand experience living and working in Washington, D.C., this semester as they prepare to begin their internships at the Washington Internship Institute and the Normandy Group, respectively. Below, they reflect on what they are most excited about and what they hope to learn during their time studying and interning in Washington.

Andrew Colford ’22

The thing I’m looking forward to the most as I begin my Washington Internship Institute (WII) experience is taking part in my internship. During the Spring semester, I will be interning in the Office of U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. Even though the office isn’t necessarily in the Capitol, I will be doing some things within the Capitol, which is what I’m looking forward to the most.

I always dreamed of working in the Capitol or the White House, and during the upcoming semester, I may get the experience to actually do some work within the Capitol. The WII gives students the experience of living in Washington and finding an internship, allowing you to gain the experience of working in Washington.

The international affairs program at the University has done a great job of preparing me for this experience. The professors in the program, such as Dr. Haynes, Dr. Schmidt, and many others, have done a great job teaching us the necessary skills and giving us the essential advice we need to succeed in Washington, D.C.

I am hoping to gain as much as possible from this experience. Most employers in Washington like to hire new employees who have previously worked in D.C. or who have some sort of name there, whether it is through meeting people or through their work in D.C.

My mission is to make sure I leave a good impression with my employer and to expand my network, as the people I meet there will help lead me to my first real job down in D.C. I am hoping to connect with some University of New Haven alums who are now working in D.C. I hope this will expand my network and that by reaching out to these alums, they will help show me around D.C. and introduce me to more people.

I would recommend the WII to anyone who is interested in working in Washington, as it is an excellent opportunity to gain important exposure to the D.C. work environment and to see what it is like to live there.

Declan McLoughlin ’22

During the spring semester, I will be interning at the Normandy Group in Washington, D.C. I learned quite a bit about the program and life in D.C. during the application process for the Washington Internship Institute and the Normandy Group. I am doing this program in order to gain not only valuable skills and experience in my field but also to cultivate professional relationships. This is my final semester at the University of New Haven, and I hope this internship program will have a beneficial impact on my professional life.

The Normandy Group, LLC was established in 2006 to provide specialized, hands-on lobbying and federal government relations services. They currently provide strategic services to a wide range of clients, including Fortune 500 corporations. My interests in domestic policy and national security is sure to be satisfied through this experience of working for a firm in downtown D.C.

“Next semester in D.C. should be a wonderful experience and feels like the proper next step before graduation.”Declan McLoughlin ’22

My time at the University, including competing in Model United Nations while double minoring in political science and legal studies, has allowed me to explore my interests and give me the opportunity to realize that the WII was the right choice for me.

Originally from Long Island, NY, I expect moving my studies from New Haven to D.C. will be a very different experience that will help me grow in many areas outside of my comfort zone. Living right outside of downtown D.C will be a wonderful way to explore everything D.C has to offer.

Next semester in D.C. should be a wonderful experience and feels like the proper next step before graduation. I’d like to thank the University’s WII Director Dr. Chris Haynes and the National Security Department for affording me high-impact opportunities such as this program.

Andrew Colford ’22 is an international affairs major, and Declan McLoughlin ’22 is a national security major at the University of New Haven.