The Washington Internship Institute (WII)
Formed in 1990 by Dr Mary Ryan, the Washington Internship Institute is an educational nonprofit organization that prepares college students and recent graduates for their future. During a semester or summer in Washington, DC, students learn about themselves and their fields through substantive internships, academic enrichment seminars, site visits, and shared housing. They become engaged and informed citizens and leaders who are equipped to make a difference in the world.
As an intern, you’ll obtain practical experience by spending four full days per week at your internship site. You’re not just getting coffee and making copies: you’re doing real work.
Interns have:
- attended congressional hearings and briefings for their internships on Capitol Hill
- responded to trade inquiries at the US Department of Commerce
- composed blog posts and op-eds at the Sierra Club
- helped plan gala events
- conducted research at the Library of Congress
- implemented training sessions at the Smithsonian Institution
- assisted in efforts to develop an AIDS vaccine at the National Institutes of Health
Throughout your experience, you’re making connections between your classwork and your professional work– and making connections with people working in your desired field.
