Government internships position students at the forefront of public service

This previous summer, Izzy Del Gaudio completed a career-transforming internship at SpaceWERX, the innovation branch of the U.S. Space Force located in El Segundo. “I was particularly attracted to this position due to my passions for national security, innovative technology, and collaboration between public and private sectors,” states Del Gaudio, a fourth-year pupil at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and master’s candidate at the USC Marshall School of Business.

As SpaceWERX’s first policy intern, Del Gaudio gained insights into dual-use space technologies that cater to both public necessities and national defense objectives, and crafted and presented her inaugural policy memo for the U.S. Department of Defense. “It has increased my enthusiasm to pursue a vocation that merges innovation, defense, and strategic policies,” she reveals.

Del Gaudio’s experience embodies the purpose of the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program, which places undergraduates in prominent government internships to assist them in exploring and pursuing career avenues in public service. Annually, 50 outstanding second- and third-year learners are chosen as fellows — 10 from each of five academic institutions: USC, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Virginia, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Undergraduate public-service internships are frequently unpaid, creating an obstacle for numerous students wishing to pursue them. The Schaeffer Fellows initiative addresses that impediment by offering each fellow a $6,000 stipend to aid with housing, travel, and other living expenses. “Fellows can immerse themselves in what we love without any financial concerns,” remarks Del Gaudio.

Since it welcomed its initial cohort of interns in 2015, the program has supported 467 fellows across more than 280 federal, state, and local government offices and agencies throughout the nation.

Government internships familiarize students with the significance of public service

“Schaeffer fellows grasp firsthand how government functions, the effect one can have on our society, and the importance of being an active citizen who upholds the principles of our democracy throughout their lives,” expresses program founder Leonard D. Schaeffer, a health care executive, public service advocate, and philanthropist.

Schaeffer’s 2014 contribution to USC and Princeton University, the first two participating institutions, initiated the program. At USC, Schaeffer occupies the Judge Robert Maclay Widney Chair and serves as a professor, member of the Board of Trustees, and chairman of the USC Health System Board, which supervises Keck Medicine of USC.

When he was an undergraduate at Princeton, Schaeffer interned for Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas, a pivotal experience that sparked his interest in government and policy and inspired the creation of the Schaeffer Fellows program.

“Government service regularly provides students with greater chances for responsibility and influence than in the private sector, and it can be immensely satisfying.

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working on such captivating and significant public policy matters,” states USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim, whose own career trajectory encompassed roles in both local and federal government service. “By motivating such remarkable students to pursue careers in civic leadership, the Schaeffer Fellows initiative injects precisely the talent, creativity, and public spirit we require into government.”

Diverse pathways into government

Fellows can choose to be paired with an internship at one of the program’s partner agencies or obtain an internship on their own. In certain cases, such as Del Gaudio’s internship at SpaceWERX, government agencies and offices develop internship opportunities in reaction to outreach by the administrators of the Schaeffer Fellows program.

“I would have never had access to this specific niche and innovative role without the backing of the Schaeffer program,” Del Gaudio remarks.

For Samara Holloway, a fourth-year student at USC Dornsife and USC Marshall, being matched with an internship last summer at the Office of Exposition Park Management redirected her career ambitions. When she started the internship at the government agency, which supervises the 160-acre park next to the USC University Park Campus, Holloway had no experience in public service and was contemplating a career in the business field.

She enjoyed tasks such as facilitating community focus groups that contributed to the park’s planning for the 2028 Olympics. “I didn’t comprehend that public service could become a career,” states Holloway, who now aspires to work in government or legal services. “The internship guided me toward my desired direction and inspired me to pursue my passions.”

In a similar vein, a 2023 internship at the San Francisco office of the General Services Administration — a marketplace for government contracts — enabled Vincent Cisneros ’24 to uncover his enthusiasm for employing analytical tools and improving organizational efficiency. He obtained the internship independently and was accepted into a program that permitted him to continue as a part-time employee during his final year at USC and a full-time employee after graduation.

“I found it unique to utilize technology to enhance government agencies’ capacity to serve their constituents,” remarks Cisneros, a graduate of the USC Price School of Public Policy who presently works in community development and housing as an analyst for Harris & Associates in Irvine. “It’s a facet of government I didn’t realize existed before.”

A nurturing introduction to professional life

Fellows from across the nation convene for a virtual orientation prior to the commencement of their internships, a midsummer professional development summit held in Washington, D.C., and fall events at their respective universities that honor fellows’ contributions to public service. While each partnering university designates its own fellows, the program’s shared aspects are centrally managed at USC by the program’s administrators, Executive Director Erica Lovano McCann and Assistant Director Willa Erickson.

Rooted in the program’s core themes, these events encourage students to reflect on their fundamental principles, acquire leadership insights, develop strategies for collaboration and networking, and hone transferable skills. Each fellow also enjoys individual mentorship from an alumnus of their university, who often is also an alumnus of the program. Even if fellows decide against pursuing careers in government, these activities help them “translate the skills and insights from their internships into any future path they choose,” Lovano McCann remarks.

The latter was true for alumna Jamie Kwong, BA and MA ’18, who is currently a London-based Nuclear Policy Program Fellow at the global think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Kwong’s 2016 internship with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee was instrumental in launching her career as a nuclear policy researcher.

During that summer, Kwong organized informational interviews with around 50 individuals in international relations — some of whom Schaeffer personally connected her with. Through those discussions, she gained insights into how think tanks direct research toward policymakers. “Being on Capitol Hill presented an opportunity to comprehend a pathway I could pursue,” says Kwong, who subsequently was selected for the Marshall Scholarship program and completed her doctorate in war studies at King’s College London.

Connection to the U.S. capital

In 2024, a $59 million donation from Schaeffer and his late wife, Pamela, established the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service, which is based at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., as well as the University Park Campus. The institute now acts as a lasting home for the Schaeffer Fellows program, securing its endowment and facilitating expanded opportunities. From this point forward, the Schaeffer Fellows annual Washington, D.C., summit will occur at the USC Capital Campus facility.

The summit, lasting four days each June, remains a favorite among fellows, whose travel, accommodations, and meals are funded by the program. Fellows engage with like-minded peers nationwide, alumni of the program, and distinguished public service leaders from various government sectors. Through interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and panel discussions, the summit cultivates a sense of camaraderie among the cohort and equips fellows with tools to thrive in their internships and beyond — including personalized business cards to distribute as they form new connections.

Fellows also partake in group excursions to D.C. landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol and national museums. For many, this trip signifies their first journey to the nation’s capital. “It’s a truly unique opportunity to be in D.C., right at the center of it all,” Cisneros states. “I’ve maintained contact with several fellows from the summit, and it’s been fulfilling to build those lasting relationships.”

“To be in Washington, D.C., and be surrounded by numerous individuals who are so committed to public service is an awe-inspiring experience,” Del Gaudio remarks. “I returned home feeling invigorated and even more determined to continue down this public-service path because I felt as though I had found my community.”

A vibrant alumni network

Alumni of the fellowship discover that participation in the program provides them with an advantage as they progress through their college journeys and professional paths. Holloway describes the program as a “launching pad” that has opened doors to further internships at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office and JVS SoCal, a workforce development nonprofit. Some alumni, like Cisneros, secure permanent roles at the organizations where they interned. Others, such as Kwong, are selected for esteemed research fellowships.

For Del Gaudio, who is beginning to enter the job market, the SpaceWERX entry on her résumé has already elicited positive feedback from potential employers. However, she emphasizes that the professional development aspect of the Schaeffer Fellows program is equally as valuable as its résumé-enhancing potential. As she applies for employment, she finds herself pondering the core values she articulated during the summit.

“I want to ensure that my initial career decisions are guided by my principles and not by external approval,” Del Gaudio asserts. “I added something meaningful to my résumé this summer — but I also evolved as a person.”

Lovano McCann emphasizes that alumni increasingly choose to remain involved with the program in the years following graduation. They assist as mentors, engage in alumni panels, and host social events in their regions.

Kwong, for instance, mentors fellows virtually from London and serves on the Schaeffer Fellows Advisory Board. “I attempt to repay what I was given that summer,” she states.

When the program first commenced, Lovano McCann did not envision such a dedicated alumni network. “They have demonstrated a strong desire to remain active with the program and each other,” she remarks. “In the coming decade, one of our primary goals will be to develop resources, programs, and professional networks to support them in any career.”

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