Lott Leadership Internships
We believe the best way to learn is by doing. Internships open the door to real-world experience.
We Have Robust Internship Opportunities
Through Institute programs, strategic partnerships, and alumni connections, we empower our students to apply the skills they learn in the classroom to the professional world.
In previous years, our students have worked on a diverse range of projects that include public-private partnerships with industry, the justice system, healthcare, the environment, and other issues at the fore of U.S. society. As interns, our students have a front seat to the inner workings of government and policy at the state and federal levels.
They’ve found placements across the nation with think tanks, and influential nonprofits, as well as on Capitol Hill, and in Jackson, home to the state legislature.
The program ensures that students are placed in internships that reflect their career aspirations by connecting them with opportunities suited to their goals. Working individually with students—and assisting them with resumes and personal statements— the Trent Lott Leadership Institute reaches out to an extended network of alumni and friends, so that the program can direct students to the internships that will be the most beneficial to them.
Any requests for academic credit for internship experiences require the approval the Department of Public Policy Leadership. Please see the PPL website or contact Dr. Melissa Bass for more details.
Our partnerships help us grow
The Institute additionally partners with entities that recognize the value of experiential learning and the high quality of students produced by the PPL program.
Every summer, the Reagan Institute in Washington, D.C. operates the Academy for Civic Education and Democracy, where students earn 3-6 credit hours while working in an internship. As a fellow Institute dedicated to non-partisan leadership development, the Lott Institute is grateful for the friendship and support of the Reagan Institute.
Washington Internship Experience
Every spring in Washington, D.C., students encounter the excitement of the nation’s capital while gaining professional experience and staying on track to graduate. Program participants can earn twelve (12) PPL credit hours while interning in a non-profit, government relations, or congressional office. Additionally, students participate in briefings, group excursions, and lectures to supplement the experiential learning offered through the internship and coursework.
Our students have had the opportunity to intern with Crossroads Strategies, Representative Bernie Sanders Ducks Unlimited, Senator Roger Wicker, United States House Commerce Committee, BGR, United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Speaker of the House's Office, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and more.
Gain Global Perspective Through Study Abroad
To prepare students for positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world and emphasize the global nature of responsible decision making, we encourage our students to study abroad.
Transforming young leaders
"My time on Capitol Hill with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and in the House of Representatives was a transformative journey where I witnessed first-hand the power of advocacy and collaborations. Surrounded by passionate leaders in the hall of power, I immersed myself in the complexities of policy-making and community empowerment."
Kayle Amos
Intern, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Helpful Resources
Office of Global Engagement
We are responsible for the development, promotion, and support of all global engagement activities on campus. Our goal is the comprehensive internationalization of the university, and the development of our students, faculty, and staff as global citizens.
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
The mission of the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education is to serve the University and the community by facilitating and providing high-quality learning experiences.
Department of Public Policy Leadership
The Department of Public Policy Leadership provides a challenging undergraduate major that prepares high-performing students for positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world. The interdisciplinary program emphasizes the global nature of responsible decision making, the ethical imperatives of leadership, critical thinking, communication skills, and the conceptual and methodological skills necessary for careful policy analysis.
Looking for an Internship?
Lott students seeking Institutional support for internship opportunities/applications should email a resume and letter of interest. We can help you create, edit, and tailor your submission materials.
Melissa Lynn Jones
Associate Director Trent Lott Leadership Institute and Director of Leadership Endorsement Programming