From the Classroom to Congress: CPP Students Thrive in Panetta Institute’s D.C. Internship

The Panetta Institute’s Congressional Internship in Washington, D.C.  offers unlimited opportunities for students to use the learn-by-doing method we practice here at Cal Poly Pomona.  This past year, Victoria Flores and Juliana Murillo, political science majors, were chosen to intern in a congressional office. 

Victoria Flores brought a wealth of experience to her internship, having served in Associated Students Inc., and as a member of the Model United Nations team, and founder and President of the pre-Law Club at Cal Poly Pomona.   During Victoria's time in DC, she met countless members of Congress, from Bernie Sanders to Nancy Pelosi, and many more. Victoria worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she would write letters to President Biden's cabinet, join Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) in committee hearings, and ran into dozens of politicians in the hallways. While a legislative intern in Norma Torres's office, she was able to re-introduce the "Pink Tax Repeal Act," which prohibits businesses from charging different prices for identical products based on gender.   

The best part of her trip was experiencing this internship with her coworkers, her friends, and the Panetta cohort. "D.C. felt like home because of these people!" says Victoria. She also can't forget her favorite chicken place, Nando's PERi-PERi; she thinks about it every day!

 "The trip impacted my education in the best way possible," Victoria says. Being an intern for Congress has taught her so much about American politics, "It made me rethink my life goals, and I would love to return as a legislative staffer," states Victoria. To this day, she not only talks about living in D.C., but she also talks about everything she learned. One thing Victoria recommends to future interns is: "Rest days are okay but remind yourself that you are in D.C.! You won't ever live there for free, in college, with great people, so take advantage. Take the train to New York, take the White House Tour a couple of times, try the food, and take it all in!"

Juliana Murillo drew upon her leadership experience as a judicial intern, resident advisor, and eagle scout while she worked as a legislative intern for the office of Congresswoman Katie Porter. Juliana assisted the legislative staff with projects, such as conducting legislative research, drafting tracking spreadsheets, attending legislative briefings, or writing stakeholder meeting biographies. She also responded to constituent messages, directed them to the correct staff member, and drafted letters for other congressional offices and federal agencies. One of the most significant projects Juliana worked on in Katie Porter's office was the re-introduction of the Mental Health Justice Act, which aims to modernize the state’s mental health system by prioritizing care for those with severe mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

Juliana said, "The opportunity to live and work in the nation's capital was the most immersive learn-by-doing experience I could've had in my college career. This internship helped me build my resume, knowledge, and professional network, which has proven invaluable as I enter post-grad life." Juliana would like to extend a sincere thank you to the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona, President Coley, and the Panetta Institute, who made this experience possible. Juliana elaborated, "Without the support of the Political Science department, I don't think I would have ever gotten such an amazing internship opportunity! I'm extremely grateful that I got to experience this with Victoria, and I'm excited for the next Panetta intern to create their memories this year."

Political Science major Amary Corona will represent Cal Poly Pomona as this year's Panetta Intern. She will have the opportunity to make her own memories and gain the lifelong knowledge and experience that the internship offers. Congratulations, Amary! We wish you nothing but the best during your trip to D.C., and we cannot wait to hear about your experience.