Emma Hansen’s Fall 2023 Internship at the Council of Independent Colleges
/Emma Hansen, a junior Educational Studies major and Political Science minor from Roger Williams University, spent the Fall 2023 semester interning at the Council of Independent Colleges, an education non-profit dedicated to supporting institution leaders, advancing institutional excellence, and enhancing public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.
Tell us about your internship experience.
My name is Emma Hansen and I attend Roger Williams University in the class of 2025. I am an Educational Studies Major with a Political Science Minor and decided to come to DC to work with an education non-profit. I had an amazing internship at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). They are a higher education association of independent institutions dedicated to supporting institution leaders, advancing institutional excellence, and enhancing the public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. The Council of Independent Colleges is the major national organization that focuses on providing resources to leaders of independent colleges and universities. CIC offers programs, networks, conferences, and support for independent higher education institutions.
My role as an intern at CIC was to complete a major project that focused on the research of member institution presidents in order to create a more holistic database of CIC member leadership. Once I got started on this project, my team members trusted me with additional projects such as working on data analysis with the Belong network team, and writing professional communication for the CIC president with the communications team. I am proud to have contributed to the presidential research project, as the database will be used frequently for many day-to-day projects at CIC.
My favorite parts about interning at CIC were getting to know my colleagues and getting hands-on experience in the higher education association field. Every day I was in the office was a positive experience. My colleagues were always so helpful and kind, and made me feel like part of the team. I got to learn about all aspects of the organization and dove deep into my department of member engagement. I also really loved being able to take the Metro to work, it’s much more convenient than sitting in traffic in the car!
What was your favorite part about living in DC this semester?
I loved being in the center of where all the action happens! My favorite thing to do was to walk around various neighborhoods in DC and people watch, just taking in the sights and sounds. The National Mall is fun too, and my favorite activity was seeing the Capitol building at night and watching the sunset from the Lincoln Memorial. I also enjoyed time with the friends I made in the apartment building, and I would highly recommend going to Courthaus Social in Courthouse for trivia on Wednesdays! If you’re a foodie like me, I recommend Ambar (for unlimited small plates of Balkan food), the Smith (for a good steak), and Keren Cafe & Restaurant (for amazing Ethiopian food). Also, the Smithsonian Postal Museum is underrated! It is super fun and a great way to spend a few hours for free!
What advice do you have for future students in our program?
I was told this by a WII alum on our orientation day and I believe it is worth echoing, “Say yes to everything!” Your peers in the program are also trying to see everything, and activities in DC are more fun with friends, so if you get invited to go somewhere, even if just to grab a bite, say yes! You never know what it could lead to. I tried my best (within reason) to always be ready for an adventure and I ended up having some amazing experiences and making some forever friends.
I would also recommend keeping up with a weekly budget, because as much fun as living in DC is, things get expensive fast. I made a spreadsheet and recorded my purchases and then budgeted for the next week’s worth of food, metro, experiences, and restaurants. It kept me on track all semester and I was able to afford what DC has to offer. Plus, there's so many free things to do, so don’t be scared off by the money aspect. The WII internship program is easily one of the most life changing experiences I’ve had. The skills I built in DC have propelled me into having a meaningful career, so take the leap and come to DC!
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