Poli Sci Major Audrey Grace '25 Works for Bryn Mawr's Congresswoman on the Hill
Name: Audrey Grace
Class Year: 2025
Major: Political Science and French & Francophone Studies
Hometown: Athens, Ohio
Internship Organization: The Office of Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon
Internship Title: Summer Legislative Intern
Location of Internship: Washington, D.C.
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
No two days on Capitol Hill are the same. I have some consistent tasks, but part of the excitement of being a Congressional Intern is that there are always new and unexpected jobs to do. Most often, I handle constituent correspondence. I answer phone calls from constituents, sort mail, and write responses to letters we receive. I also love giving tours of the Capitol when we have visitors in the office. Recently, I have given tours to families, constituents, and the Irish Minister for Health. There are also opportunities to engage with legislative issues. In addition to attending briefings and conducting research to write memos for staffers, I developed a legislative proposal. I was able to conduct research on an issue that interests me: increasing access to public defenders. Based on this research, I wrote a memo and proposed a legislative solution for this issue, which I presented to the Congresswoman and the legislative staffers.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied to this internship because I wanted hands-on experience working in politics. I was eager to immerse myself in the political field and work with an elected official who is fighting for causes I am passionate about. An internship at Congress was exciting because it would allow me to get a foot in the door of an institution that is largely inaccessible without connections. More than half of Congressional Staffers were Congressional Interns. This internship appealed to me because it provided me with a space to hone the skills needed for political work and learn from congressional staffers, elected officials, and other interns who understand our political system.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
When I began looking at internships on the Hill, I focused on the representatives for areas where I had lived. Not only does Congresswoman Scanlon represent Bryn Mawr’s congressional district, but her office seemed like the perfect fit for me because she has been outspoken about issues that are important to me. I was especially interested in Congresswoman Scanlon’s dedication to criminal justice reform. As a Political Science Major, I have completed courses that have developed my interest in the American political process and highlighted flaws in some of its institutions. Congresswoman Scanlon has demonstrated her commitment to this goal, and I was excited to work in an office that is fighting to make the system more fair.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
The best part of my internship has been immersing myself in the culture of the Hill. I am immensely grateful for this experience because I have learned so much in a short period of time. Initially, I was more easily overwhelmed when we received a high volume of calls. With practice, I became much more comfortable dealing with busy days when we received many calls. Not only do I feel less overwhelmed on days with busier workloads, but I am also more confident in the quality of work I produce.
When I was interviewing for this position, I was excited to learn that there are Bryn Mawr alums working in the office. It has been immensely rewarding to have the opportunity to connect with them and talk to people about their journeys from Bryn Mawr to the Hill. I have also loved connecting with the other interns in my office and building connections with people who have different life experiences from mine but who share similar interests. Aside from working together, there are so many social events offered for Congressional Interns that I have been able to attend. One of my favorite parts of this summer was attending the Congressional Baseball Game with my fellow interns.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.
Career & Civic Engagement Political Science French & Francophone Studies