An international group that supports work-integrated education has announced multiple awards honoring Florida State University’s success in preparing students for the workforce, including an inaugural award that recognizes a member of the faculty.

The Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) will honor FSU with three awards:

• Best Practices Award – Experience Recognition Program
• Engagement Fellowship – Career Center Senior Assistant Director and InternFSU Program Manager Li Pon
• Charles Kettering Award, which recognizes an outstanding internship employer – E. & J. Gallo Winery recognizing the contributions of Amanda Bussey, an FSU alumna, former sales recruiting manager for her leadership in supporting experiential learning opportunities within the company

  

The CEIA is a leader in work-integrated learning that provides opportunities for professional development while advocating for best practices in co-ops, internships and other forms of experiential education. The awards will be presented at CEIA’s annual conference April 6-8 in Tucson, Arizona.

“It’s a privilege to acknowledge Florida State University’s enduring legacy and profound impact on the field of cooperative education and internships,” CEIA President Andrew Harper said. “I’ve witnessed firsthand FSU’s unwavering dedication to fostering high-quality work-integrated learning. Their longstanding commitment to CEIA, through board service, expert guidance and innovative presentations, has elevated work-integrated learning standards nationwide.”

CEIA’s first-ever Faculty Champion Award will recognize Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Joe O’Shea for his contributions to the promotion and advocacy of work-integrated learning by a member of the faculty.

“We’re honored that CEIA recognizes FSU’s commitment to enriching the student academic journey through experiential learning,” O’Shea said. “Our work at FSU wouldn’t have been possible without outstanding students, faculty and staff at the university who believe in the power of experiential education and in making engagement a possibility for every student, from every background.”

Work-integrated learning complements academic studies with practical, real-world experiences outside of the classroom such as internships, undergraduate research, community service engagement and global studies.

FSU’s commitment to work-integrated learning includes the “formative experience” graduation requirement, implemented in Summer 2019 and continuing today, which ensures that all students get a chance to learn and engage outside the classroom.

Students find opportunities to complete the requirement throughout the university, within their colleges and beyond through programs such as the Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience, the Legislative Internship Program, classroom field experience, the sport management practicum, internships through various academic units and programs such as InternFSU and InternFSU: TLH, and production work for ESPN through Seminole Productions.

As a legislative intern, international affairs and political science double major, Sofia Casas has gotten to work directly under a Florida state senator and her legislative aide in tracking pending legislation, coordinating schedules and handling constituent services.

“This position has given me the opportunity to engage firsthand with the legislative process and apply what I have learned in my political science coursework at FSU,” said Casas, who is from Miami. “Through my experience in this internship, I have discovered I have a genuine passion for local policy and am looking forward to pursuing a career in Miami-Dade politics after graduating.”

FSU Career Center program director now president-elect of CEIA 

In addition to recognizing FSU at the upcoming awards ceremony, CEIA has named Tracey Dowling, FSU’s program director of experiential learning within the Career Center, the next president of the association.

Dowling has been instrumental in building programs such as InternFSU, which provides on-campus internships; InternFSU: TLH, which partners with companies in Tallahassee to hire student interns; FSUshadow, which connects students with one-day job shadowing opportunities; and the Part-Time Job & Internship Fair, a semesterly event that connects students with on- and off-campus jobs.

“It has been a dream come true to collaborate across campus for the last decade to reduce FSU student barriers to engagement in experiential learning,” Dowling said. “Seeing programs come to fruition — with support from academic affairs and partnerships across student affairs — and hearing students talking about them excitedly fuels motivation and innovation.”

An experienced career services professional and FSU alumna, Dowling has previously implemented services and programs at Emory University, the University of Georgia and the University of Virginia’s Semester at Sea program. She has served on the board of directors for CEIA since 2016.

“FSU’s success inspires us all to continue pushing boundaries and creating meaningful opportunities for students across the country,” CEIA President Andrew Harper said.

To learn more about FSU’s Career Center and some of the university’s work-integrated learning opportunities, visit career.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s Division of Undergraduate Studies, visit undergrad.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Office of Governmental Relations’ Legislative Internship Program, now in its third year, serves as a cornerstone of student engagement with the Florida political process.

Established in 2022 with the support of FSU President Richard McCullough, this program offers both undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to gain first hand experience in the state’s legislative environment by immersing students in the legislative process during the committee weeks starting in January and continuing through the 60-day Legislative Session.

“We are deeply grateful to President McCullough, Provost Clark, our Board of Trustees and the entire university community for their unwavering commitment of time, resources and support in making this internship program a reality,” said Clay Ingram, FSU’s chief legislative affairs officer. “Thanks to their dedication, we’ve been able to not only launch the program but also grow and adapt it to meet the growing demand and interest from our students. We are thrilled for Class III to experience the legislative process firsthand and are confident that the sky is the limit for these bright, driven students.”

Class III consists of 39 FSU students, including 13 who are part of the Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program in the Department of Political Science which includes federal and local internships, providing a broader range of experiences.

“The FSU Legislative Internship Program has been a great experience for me, allowing me to meet peers with a shared passion for public service and dive right into the state-level legislative process,” said Christopher Lynch, a student in the 2025 Legislative Internship Class. “I would emphasize for applicants considering the program the great opportunities and network of connections available to them if they have what it takes to excel in the program.”

Before students can begin their internship, they are required to participate in mandatory training sessions designed to prepare them for their roles as legislative interns. These additional learning opportunities enhance participants’ understanding of the legislative process and foster personal and professional growth.

“Through the three-day pre-internship training, we are committed to setting our students up for success,” said Lina Rojas, legislative manager for FSU Governmental Relations. “Our hope is that the knowledge they gain will empower students with the strong foundation they need to excel as legislative interns. This preparation not only enhances their professional readiness but also inspires personal growth, ensuring they are fully equipped to make impactful contributions during their service.”

Throughout their internships, students work in various offices throughout Tallahassee including the State Senate, State House of Representatives, state agencies and the Executive Office of the Governor. Additionally, some interns are placed in lobbying firms and private government relations offices, offering them a comprehensive and multifaceted view of the legislative process.

Interns engage in a wide range of activities such as conducting research, writing bill summaries, attending committee hearings and communicating with legislators, state agency liaisons, lobbyists, constituents and the general public. While administrative duties and constituent services are part of the experience, the primary focus is on understanding how the State’s legislative policy and budget are interconnected.

“Our hope is that these students will earn the trust of their offices, enabling them to engage in budget and policy matters. This will spark their interest, provide valuable experience and make them more competitive in the workforce if they choose careers in public service and politics.”

— Lina Rojas, legislative manager for FSU Governmental Relations

“Our hope is that these students will earn the trust of their offices, enabling them to engage in budget and policy matters,” Rojas said. “This will spark their interest, provide valuable experience and make them more competitive in the workforce if they choose careers in public service and politics.”

The FSU Legislative Internship Program continues to equip students with valuable skills and knowledge that will enhance their future career prospects.

“Being an FSU legislative intern was the single best decision I made in my college career,” said Mackenzie Dolan, a student in the Inaugural Class in 2023. “Through the connections and experiences gained in the program, I was able to not only decide that I wanted to pursue a legislative career but also led me to getting hired after the program.”

Interested students are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the world of public policy and politics.

To view Class III of the FSU Legislative Internship Program, visit 2025 Legislative Internship Class. To learn more about the Legislative Internship Program and how to apply, visit govrel.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University students are ready to gain meaningful experience at the Capitol while representing the Garnet and Gold through the new FSU Legislative Internship Program when the 2023 Florida Legislative session kicks off this week. Read more …

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Florida State University students are ready to gain meaningful experience at the Capitol while representing the Garnet and Gold through the new FSU Legislative Internship Program when the 2023 Florida Legislative session kicks off this week.

Located just minutes from the Capitol, FSU has for many years facilitated opportunities for students to engage in the legislative process. However, realizing there wasn’t a formal process for students to take part in the political process, the Governmental Relations Team, comprised of Clay Ingram, Lina Rojas and Lynna Sands, worked diligently to establish a structured legislative internship program that will equip students with a solid foundation to learn from the legislative process.

“Our students now will have even more hands-on opportunities to learn how politics and policy are intertwined in the legislative process by working with legislators and policymakers in the Governor’s Office, the House or Senate, state agencies and other legislative offices,” said President Richard McCullough. “This is a tremendous opportunity for students that could launch a career in politics or public service and open doors they may have never imagined.”

The inaugural class of 29 interns includes 18 students who applied directly to the program and 11 students who applied as part of the new Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience program — or APPLE — launched by faculty members in the Department of Political Science, Brad Kile and Amanda Driscoll.

The Governmental Relations Office and the Political Science Department worked together to secure internship placements and conduct training workshops to ensure these students are prepared for their roles as legislative interns.

After a competitive application process during the fall semester, interns were chosen from a pool of over 100 applicants. They each attended a multi-day boot camp where they received training on the basics of Florida government, the rules of the House and Senate, important dates and deadlines in the legislative process, decorum and proper attire, and heard from several speakers involved in the lawmaking process. The boot camp culminated with the pinning of their FSU nametags by Sen. Corey Simon.

“The Legislative Internship Program is critical to bench-building at the Capitol, and it’s helpful to our friends at the Capitol,” said Ingram, FSU’s chief legislative affairs officer. “It can be a catalyst that sparks a career in government for some of these students.”

Kai Garel, a senior from Lake Worth, Florida, who is studying political science and criminology, is excited for the opportunity to work in the heart of the state’s government.

“I came to Florida State for one main reason — I wanted to be in the middle of where state legislation occurs,” Garel said. “I’m excited to be a part of the inaugural class of the new FSU Legislative Internship Program.”

For more information, visit govrel.fsu.edu/internship-program.

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