Internships and Fellowships

Internships with the White House Initiative for Native Americans and Tribal Colleges and Universities

The White House Initiative for Native Americans and Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHI-NATCU) offers full-time and part-time internship opportunities in the Washington D.C. office during the spring, summer, and fall terms.

  • Winter/Spring Session: Jan-May
  • Summer Session : June-Aug
  • Fall Session: Aug-Dec

All applicants must be:

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited academic institution
  • Authorized to work in the United States

White House Initiative Interns will:

– Attend Meetings, briefings, and events within and outside the Department on federal education policy interests; and

– Assist with policy memos;

– Assist with inter-agency working groups and conference planning;

– Assist staff with preparation for travel, meetings, and briefings;

– Occasionally perform various administrative tasks and;

– Other duties as assigned

How to Apply: If interested, please send your resume, cover letter, and a two-page writing sample on one of the Initiatives objectives to WHI-NativeED@ed.gov

Note: All internship positions at the Initiative are unpaid.  If the applicant is not authorized to work in the United States, the applicant may still be eligible for an internship if (1) the applicant holds a valid student visa (F-1 or M-1), (2) the applicant is enrolled in school in the United States, and (3) the applicant’s school provides documentation that the internship is required for educational purposes.  The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Other Internship Opportunities:

  • White House Internship Program Become a part of the White House Team.  Interns also meet weekly for either a speaker series, meetings on policy topics and off-site field trips. The internship experience includes an emphasis on service and interns participate in regularly scheduled service projects at schools and non-profit organizations in Washington, D.C.

 

 

  • Department of Education Internship Opportunities – The Department of Education (ED) offers internships for students and recent graduates seeking valuable work experience in government and federal education, policy, and administration. Program participants have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the Department’s mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
    • The Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel’s (OGC) Legal Internship Program provides law students with an opportunity to build valuable legal and professional skills in research, writing, and advocacy, while learning about different areas of OGC’s work, such as education law and policy (e.g., early learning, K-12 education, career and technical education, other higher education, civil rights, special education), litigation, regulatory matters, employment and privacy law, contracts, and more.
    • The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights seeks law students for legal internships throughout the year. OCR offers internships in offices across the country. Most internship opportunities are in OCR’s twelve regional enforcement offices. Some interns also work in the Program Legal Group, which is located in Washington, DC.
  • Pathways – This program aims to improve recruiting efforts, offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, and to provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service.

 

  • Other Federal Agency Internships- Each federal agency provides internship opportunities for students through the Federal Internship Portal.  If interested in other opportunities, please check the agency websites and www.usajobs.gov for more information.

 

    • Udall Foundation – Native American Congressional Internship – The Native American Congressional Internship Program provides American Indian and Alaska Native students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal legislative process in order to understand first-hand the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the federal government.
    • Department of State Student Programs: any student (even high school) interested in foreign and/or domestic service.