From Nitin Yenigalla, Spring 2015 Intern at the City of Riverside:

"Interning in the City of Riverside’s Office of Economic Development was bar none, one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey at UCR. I had the privilege to work with a handful of thought leaders at Riverside OED that are continuously identifying ways to fuel growth and catalyze innovation for the local economy.

My unique interest in public policy, business and economics was well aligned for this internship, as it provided me with an opportunity to roll up my sleeves on projects of interest to me, but more importantly, it consistently challenged me to learn and think critically in the economic development arena. The opportunity to be a part of this program and intern at Riverside OED equipped me with unique vantage points, knowledge and skill-sets that will be beneficial for my future endeavors. I highly recommend the program to students in search of an internship that is both professionally and academically enriching."

From Cynthia Mejia, Winter 2015 Intern at the City of Ontario:

"One of the most important components of finding one’s interest within a given field is by experiencing what it has to offer first-hand. Given that public policy itself can be broadly defined, it can be difficult for students to truly understand the various career paths available in Public Policy.

Prior to interning at the City Manager’s office in the City of Ontario, I myself knew very little about what actually goes on within the confines of a city hall. Most textbooks emphasize the importance of federal and state governments, while briefly mentioning local and regional agencies. Throughout the course of my internship, however, I learned that not only do local governments play a crucial role in the policy implementation process, but it is where elected officials and city staff impact their communities the most: by working closely with local businesses and community members to ensure that the city itself is working towards a common goal.

This internship program equipped me with valuable tips for excelling in the workplace and provided me with the opportunity to experience public policy first-hand. Thus, I encourage any student interested in learning more about public policy as a discipline to pursue valuable internship experience like what this program has to offer!"

From Andrew Haddad, Fall 2014 Intern at San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office:

“During my senior year, I had the distinct opportunity to intern at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which opened my eyes to the organization’s health services unit. I learned that the SBCSD has a medical staff better than any other in the country. My experience was filled with hands-on work, shadowing professionals such as family doctors, psychiatrists, and even those in the classification unit. While interning at the SBCSD, I compared medical care received by those non-incarcerated versus those incarcerated. In addition to the intensive research, the SBCSD also offered exhilarating opportunities such as visits to San Bernardino County jails, interviews with key figures in the department, ride-alongs, and a helicopter ride. This internship set itself apart from any other I could have ever imagined."