Thanks to generous donations from alumni and friends, the department provides internship scholarships to selected political science and international relations undergraduates to help offset internship expenses.

Political science junior, Delaney Behning, was one of several students who received internships scholarships in 2023. Delaney’s scholarship allowed her to spend the summer in Arlington, Virginia, working as a Government Relations Intern with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The internship gave her the opportunity to learn about federal regulatory and legislative policy relevant to electric cooperatives, grid reliability, broadband, and rural development. While in her position, she was also able to attend congressional hearings, meetings with a member of Congress, and state electric cooperative managers, and various networking events.

“The internship scholarship I was provided through the Political Science Department was crucial to assisting me financially to be able to complete my summer internship. Given the higher cost of living in the D.C. area, the financial assistance I received from the scholarship allowed me to pay for necessary costs while learning aspects of my future career that I would not have been exposed to without this summer opportunity. This supported me in making the most of an unforgettable work experience and summer.”

Currently, Delaney is involved on campus with Undergraduate Student Government as the Director of Sustainability, as well as lead volunteer with the Food Pantry at Iowa, and a communications intern at the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. She is also a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. Her policy interests include sustainability, clean energy solutions, sustainable agriculture, and water quality. In the future, Delaney plans to attend law school and work as an environmental lawyer in the regulatory field or for a non-governmental organization.

To support student internships on One Day for Iowa, visit 1dayforiowa.org/polisci24 (now through March 27, 2024).

Congratulations to the 2023 Political Science Internship Scholarship recipients! 

Delaney Behning
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Arlington, VA

Maddie Cason
Office of Senator Chuck Grassley, Washington DC

Jade Cichy
U.S. House of Representatives Ashley Hinson  & U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in Washington, DC

Joe Dunlay
Black Hawk County Attorney's Office, Waterloo, IA

Noelan Garbes
Senator Grassley's Office, Washington DC

Sophia Gluba
City of Iowa City Office of Equity and Human Rights

William Jones
Carl-Schurz-Haus, Freiburg, Germany

Amisha Mohanty
The Fund for American Studies, Washington DC

Brenda Ramirez
Office of Congressman Brad Schnieder, Washington DC