Tuesday, January 11, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – (Jan. 10, 2011) – Three University of Maryland Eastern Shore students contemplating careers in politics will get a full semester of academic credit this spring while working for state lawmakers during the 2011 General Assembly session.
A $15,000 donation from Salisbury attorney Kenneth D. L Gaudreau enabled UMES a year ago to launch a political internship program. Program coordinator Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, a history professor, said the two UMES students selected as interns in 2010 had a positive experience so she recruited three new participants this year.
Criminal justice major Phylicia Henry, a senior from Largo, will work for Del. Melony G. Griffith, District 25 (Prince George’s County).
History major Clifford Glover, a junior from Silver Spring, will work for Del. Luiz Simmons, District 17 (Montgomery County).
Criminal justice major Sade Parker, a senior from Upper Marlboro, will work for Sheila E. Hixson, District 20 (Montgomery County).
Gaudreau’s gift is used for stipends to help the interns pay expenses while living in the Annapolis area.
Henry says she has long been interested in the issue of human trafficking and pursued a legislative internship hopeful it would be a way for her to study up-close how public policy is made.
“I think I would like to work for the United Nations, or an international agency that combats that problem,” Henry said.
Glover, an honors student, said “I’m interested in all the fields of law.”
He’s also been selected to participate in the “Baltimore Scholars Program,” a law school “boot camp” for undergraduates considering a career in law. He’s hopeful the experience will enable him to earn a high enough score on the law school entrance exam to qualify for a full scholarship.
“I have a passion … a desire to make things better, and to help people,” Glover said. “I think a good lawyer can do that.”
Going to law school also might be in Parker’s future somedayand she saw working alongside legislators as a way “to gain a better idea of what I would like to do with my future … and possible career choices.”
“I need some guidance before I take the next step,” Parker said.
Gaudreau was inspired to make the donation after learning UMES has no political-science degree program. “I thought a good way to generate interest in political careers would be through a political internship program,” he said, adding he remains hopeful a political science major might someday be added to the curriculum at the historically black institution.
UMES students will work as full-time office staffers, conduct research directed by Barrett-Gaines, keep a journal recording their experiences and write reports. Each will receive 12 credits toward their degree requirements
Barrett-Gaines said UMES is grateful to Gaudreau for sponsoring the internship program because it provides students with an opportunity “to develop leadership skills; network with legislators and interns from other universities; to learn about the state political process from the inside; and explore future career paths.”
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Bill Robinson, director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355, wrobinson3@umes.edu
