If you are a college student and a go-getter who enjoys a fast-paced and diverse workload, has an interest in the legislative process, and enjoys meeting new people every day and learning more about our state government, I recommend looking into the Missouri Senate’s intern program.
Each year, as the interim comes to a close and we head into the holiday season, Senate offices in the Capitol start gearing up for the new legislative session. In preparation, many offices seek legislative interns for the 4 1/2 months of session, which runs from the beginning of January to the middle of May. Internship opportunities are available to Missouri college students who demonstrate an interest in working hard and learning about the political process. While a political science background is a plus, it is not required.
Senate internships provide students with an array of enhanced learning opportunities, such as meeting with statewide elected officials and participating in roundtables to discuss and explore key legislation. A Senate internship also puts you in touch with representatives from a variety of industries as well as potential employers. Our interns have gone on to pursue their own political and professional careers, and they have used their experiences as a Missouri Senate intern to give them the leg up they needed to succeed.
Interns are generally enrolled in an intern program through their school and typically work during their fall or spring semester in exchange for credit hours. Students can find both full-time and part-time internships to suit their academic schedules.
Although the majority of my office’s interns came from the University of Central Missouri, we also had interns from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Lincoln University and Truman State University, with many of these students having local connections to the 21st District. While I will no longer be in office next session due to term limits, I encourage any interested students to apply. As it is an election year, your new senator may not be elected by the time you need to apply, but your school should still be able to assist you in setting up a Senate internship.
If you or someone you know is interested in gaining firsthand experience with the legislative process, please visit the Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov, and click on each senator’s office webpage to see what positions are available.
Opportunities also exist for Missouri high school students to “shadow” a senator for a day. These students will get to experience the exciting work of a state senator firsthand, which is a great opportunity for any high schoolers thinking about a career in politics or a related field.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.
Senator David Pearce serves Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline counties in the 21st State Senatorial District.