Legislative Internship Program Alumni Testimonials

What year did you intern with the Texas Legislature?
I interned in 2019.

With which office did you intern?
I interned for the Office of Gina Calanni, House of Representatives District 132.

What is your current job position?
I am a provider relations liaison at Kelsey Seybold Clinic.

How did participation in the Legislative Internship Program prepare you for your career? 
Participating in the LIP helped prepare me for my job because I was able to learn the more in-depth process of the policy/law creating process. In my current field, I work more with providers/doctors, howeverthe LIP taught me how to navigate different situations that I use today when I’m contacting providers.

What was the most rewarding part of the program?
The most rewarding part of the program was the knowledge that I got from the people I met during my internship, some of which have worked in the capital for years. I also listened in and met with constituents/groups in order to hear their mission. The stories I heard helped me determine the path I wanted to take after graduating and is a big part of why I got my Masters in Public Administration. I’m grateful for the experience as it taught me a lot.

What year did you intern with the Texas Legislature?
Spring 2009

With which office did you intern?
I worked with Craig Eiland, speaker pro tempore, of Galveston. This was right after Hurricane Ike, so there was a lot going on with disaster recovery.

What is your current job position?
I am the administrative manager for Enterprise Accounts within Utility Billing at the City of Houston. The majority of these accounts utilize multi-million gallons of water consumption every month. I also am the legislative expert for all utility billing issues each legislative cycle.

How did participation in the Legislative Internship Program prepare you for your career?
It was the first exposure I had when it comes to reporting information. Many times, you had an elevator ride or a walk to the floor to communicate the substance of a bill to your legislator. This skill is vastly important in my career, as often times, I have to be able to summarize years of correspondence, billing information, meter information and suggested decision points into a very short time period with decision makers.

What was the most rewarding part of the program?
The program was more of a transitional period that you got to experience with a cohort. The relationships I developed within the program I still use today more than a decade later. Sure, there are other internship opportunities, but rarely are there opportunities that have multiple people going through the same journey you are side by side. The legislature is a community, and I wouldn’t trade working my session for anything.

What year did you intern with the Texas Legislature?
I served as an intern in 2013 during the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature.

With which office did you intern?
State Representative Travis Clardy  

What is your current job position?
I am the communications director for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Previously, I served as communications director for Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush as part of the Texas General Land Office and Veterans Land Board. In Washington, D.C., I was communications director for U.S. Congressman Ted Poe. 

How did participation in the Legislative Internship Program prepare you for your career? 
My time in the Texas Legislature gave me my true start in politics, ultimately resulting in a job opportunity as campaign manager for Rep. Clardy during my final year of college. Further, the network I built during legislative session has lasted throughout my career. Over the years, I’ve worked in various capacities with many individuals I formed relationships with back then. You never know who you are going to be exposed to and where those individuals might just end up. I consider my time in the Texas Legislature to be the foundation of my career in politics. 

What was the most rewarding part of the program?
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was gaining a true understanding of how politics works and what the legislative process looks like. Theory only goes so far. Politics, in practice, is a totally different animal. The Legislative Internship Program gives you the opportunity to see firsthand how a bill becomes a law and gain insight into the inner workings of the system. It puts you in the room where deals are happening and negotiations are taking place. The bills that you help shepherd through the legislative process become real laws at the end of the day. There is no more rewarding feeling than knowing that you have made a substantial difference in shaping our state’s future. 

What year did you intern with the Texas Legislature? 
2017

With which office did you intern? 
State Senator Kel Seliger

What is your current job position? 
Operations at Vetcove

How did participation in the SFA LIP prepare you for your career? 
At a basic level, participating in this internship was my first opportunity to learn office etiquette and best practices applicable in most industries. But the program offered so much more than that -- a front-row seat to decision-making, real-world experience in project management, and great networking opportunities. I even had the opportunity to carry a bill through the legislative process (mostly) by myself! My first job after undergrad was through a connection our Chief of Staff made for me, and it ultimately opened the door to my current career in startup operations.

What was the most rewarding part of the program?
 I would say there were two really rewarding parts: one being the awe I felt every day at working in such a beautiful and storied building, and the other being the mentorship of the policy analyst whose portfolio I worked on, who I still keep in touch with and consider a longtime friend.

What year did you intern with the Texas Legislature?
I interned in 2017 during the 85th legislative session of the Texas Legislature.

With which office did you intern?
I had the privilege of interning for State Representative Hubert Vo of Texas House District 149 in Alief, Texas.

What is your current job position?
I work as a policy analyst in the Texas House of Representatives.  

How did participation in the the Legislative Internship Program prepare you for your career?
The SFA Legislative Internship Program was an incredible opportunity that profoundly influenced my career path. The support we received, from stipends for housing to regular check-ins from SFA faculty members, truly demonstrated the program's commitment to its students. This program didn't just prepare me for my career — it launched it. Being at the Texas Capitol exposed me to a wide variety of policy issues, the legislative bill drafting process, committee hearings and debates on the floor. Most importantly, it provided invaluable networking opportunities. Thanks to the rigorous training I received from SFA’s Department of Government, I was well-prepared for my placement office. This led to a full-time job offer, where I worked my way up to chief of staff for four years before transitioning to my current role as a policy analyst while attending law school.

What was the most rewarding part of the program?
The most rewarding part of the program was the opportunity itself. A chance conversation with Dr. Ken Collier, former professor, about post-graduation job opportunities led me to apply for LIP. I had the immense fortune of being selected and so I committed to making the most of this incredible opportunity. The support and belief from Collier and the Department of Government were truly instrumental in my success.

Today, I have worked in various roles within the Texas House of Representatives, from legislative aide to chief of staff, and now policy analyst. I also had the chance to work with the Texas Board of Law Examiners as a licensure analyst. My time at the Texas Capitol, enriched by the networking and experiences gained through LIP, continues to benefit me in my career. I am deeply grateful to Collier and the Department of Government for their unwavering support. To this day, I proudly display my SFA pride wherever I can, because without LIP, I would not be where I am now.