USC students excel in D.C. summer internships

USC students’ summer internships in Washington, D.C., aren’t just for political science and public policy majors. This summer, Trojans from across majors and schools interned in the nation’s capital — in and out of government.

Immersing themselves in career-shaping opportunities in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, rising seniors Liam Adams, Zelda Fishman and Channing Mack took their professional development from coast to coast, while taking advantage of summer housing, scholarships and activities offered by the USC Capital Campus.

“Politics impacts everything,” said Mack, a summer intern in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Management and Budget. “If you want to see how the country and world work, intern in D.C.”

“Washington, D.C., is one of the best cities in the world for internships,” USC Capital Campus Executive Director Elyse Levine said. “The high-impact work and unmatched networking opportunities a D.C. internship provides are why the Capital Campus offers programs, scholarships and support for students of all majors to immerse themselves in the nation’s capital and set themselves up for successful careers.”

Mack, a political science major at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, found his internship in a nontraditional way: a cold email to the White House. After a rigorous interview process, he was selected to serve as an intern in the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Mack was tasked with supporting the review of proposed agency regulatory policies and information collections, evaluating their legality, practicality and potential impact.

For Mack, the internship was both a pivotal career steppingstone and a remarkable journey, capping off an eight-month tenure in the nation’s capital that also included participation in the USC in D.C. Spring Semester Program and an internship on Capitol Hill. He takes away an expanded professional network and memories of a visit to the Oval Office, historic America 250 celebrations, and shaking hands with senior government officials he wouldn’t otherwise have met.

Professional development at a nonprofit

Just a few blocks from the White House, Zelda Fishman took part in the American Jewish Committee’s prestigious Goldman Summer Fellowship. The intensive eight-week program provided Fishman with professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities.

“Without this fellowship, I wouldn’t have otherwise found myself in Washington, D.C., a dynamic city I have come to adore,” Fishman said. “I am grateful for the Epstein Family D.C. Student Experience Scholarship, which enabled me to participate in this impactful program where I have been able to further my future career goals.”

Over the course of the fellowship, Fishman worked toward a meaningful capstone project. As a Judaic Studies major at USC Dornsife, Fishman found the project particularly significant as it focused on antisemitism education and research into methods to promote the safety and security of Jewish students on college campuses. Fishman had the valuable opportunity to share and discuss her findings and on-campus experiences with AJC donors. The fellowship culminated in an impactful weeklong trip to Germany  to experience contemporary Jewish life and society.

USC Capital Campus, alumni support D.C. summer experiences

Progressive degree student Liam Adams joined the Capital Campus’ “USC in D.C. Internships & Opportunities” LinkedIn Group last spring. There, he came across a posting for the Google Public Policy Fellowship, which hosts fellows at public interest organizations. The Capital Campus team then connected Adams with USC alumnus Rob Retzlaff, who leads the Connected Commerce Council (3C), a fellowship host organization. After a robust application and interview process, Adams was selected for the renowned fellowship.

“Working at 3C to cultivate a policy environment that takes small business interests into consideration showed me just how important it is to advocate for comprehensive, deliberate legislation,” said Adams, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international relations and the global economy at USC Dornsife and a master’s in innovation economics, law and regulation, a joint program of USC Dornsife and the USC Gould School of Law.

“The summer showed me there is still substantial work being done behind the scenes to advance pragmatic, common-sense policies,” he said. “I’ve become more inspired than ever to join these efforts upon graduation, and I’m extremely grateful to the USC Capital Campus for providing logistical support and to the Google Public Policy Fellowship for giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at organizations like 3C.”

As a fellow, Adams conducted in-depth policy research, tracked federal and state legislation to assess potential impact on small businesses and undertook special projects to highlight small businesses nationwide. He also relished the chance to attend congressional hearings, including a House Small Business Committee hearing, and attend unique events. Alongside day-to-day responsibilities, Adams attended “Google Policy Q&A Sessions” with senior leaders across the company on topics such as AI governance, data centers, energy and children’s safety.

While in D.C., Adams also enrolled in “Advanced Writing: Social Sciences,” a required general education course offered at the Capital Campus. The course, which focused on political science and public policy, honed Adams’ political writing skills in preparation for a future career in D.C. Offered in the evenings to accommodate daytime internships, the course provided essential class credits, allowing him to graduate on time in the spring.

Resources for USC interns in D.C.

This summer, the Capital Campus offered enhanced resources to support summer interns in D.C., including assistance with internship identification, general education course offerings, dedicated scholarships, housing and networking events.

For the first time, Washington summer interns like Fishman were recipients of the impactful Epstein Family D.C. Student Experience Scholarship. The scholarship awarded students up to $10,000 to cover expenses related to living and learning in D.C.

In addition to summer-term programming, the USC Capital Campus offers two signature programs during the fall and spring semesters: the USC in D.C. First Semester Program and the USC in D.C. Spring Semester Program. Internships are a core aspect of the spring semester program, with students interning in D.C. while taking relevant coursework to make progress toward their degree. Applications are currently open for the 2027 Spring Semester Program Cohort; the early application deadline is Sept. 4.