Intern in DC: John Augé’s experience with the American Enterprise Institute

This fall, John Augé from North Central College interned with the American Enterprise Institute, where he gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between government and media and furthered his career goals in foreign affairs. 

Where did you intern and what does your internship site do?   

I interned at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) which is a public policy think tank. 

What sort of work have you done at your internship? Are there any projects you are proud to have worked on? 

I interned on the media relations team at AEI where I was able to learn about the relationship between government and media. When scholars wrote an article, I wrote news pitches that were sent to journalists to promote the scholars’ work and then tried to place their work in outlets (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc.) I worked with a different team member each week, so I was able to receive experience in all areas (domestic, foreign policy, constitutional studies, economics). I completed a lot of research on news outlets, reporters and news programs in addition to lots of data entry for all the times our scholars get mentioned online. I drafted questions to be asked on a podcast hosted by the president of AEI. My favorite project that I worked on was assisting in the creation of a database journalists can use to connect to AEI scholars. I also worked on a project where I researched political jargon and included a scholar's thoughts on it, which was sent out to research assistants at AEI.

What was your favorite part about interning?   

My favorite part about interning was meeting and working with so many amazing people. Every person on my team, and AEI as whole, was very genuine and welcoming. Another thing I enjoyed about my internship was being in-person. I was able to get the full experience since I was able to go into the office. Meeting with scholars to ask questions about current events and career paths was insightful. I also enjoyed getting to attend events hosted by scholars. AEI scholars hosted many events throughout the semester, but my favorite was when AEI hosted Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne. 

What was your favorite part about living in DC this semester? Any Recommendations? 

My favorite part about being in DC was that there is always something to do. Whether it be going to the National Mall or visiting an embassy, you will find plenty of things to keep yourself busy. My recommendation is to take advantage of events to learn and meet new people. I was able to attend networking events, visit the Embassy of Georgia, and a restaurant where George Washington ate (Gadsby's Tavern). I think it’s important for students to be independent since many of us will be starting our professional career very soon and living in DC allows you to do that. 

What advice do you have for future students in our program? 

My advice for future students is to step out of your comfort zone and take advantage of everything the city has to offer. No matter your hobbies/interests, find something new that you haven't tried before. Another piece of advice is to get on one or more email lists that send you a schedule of what’s happening in DC each week. Many places offer student discounts so don't forget to mention you're a student when purchasing tickets, etc!