Macomb, Illinois Student Interns in Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON – Macomb, Illinois, native Anabelle Clark spent this summer interning for U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office as an intern.
“I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois,” Durbin said. “I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a student from East St. Louis, Illinois, going to work in the office of a U.S. Senator was one of the most exciting things I had ever done. I know what a valuable experience it can be and we strive to make sure all of our students get a glimpse into the workings of the United States Senate.”
A resident of Macomb, Illinois, Anabelle is a senior studying political science and East Asian languages and cultures with a minor in dance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This fall, she will study abroad at the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. On campus, Anabelle participates in language tables and cultural events with the Chinese Language and International Development Club and teaches youth creative dance classes. Most recently, Anabelle had the opportunity to intern with the US-Asia Institute. Anabelle has enjoyed the opportunity to gain experience directly supporting Senator Durbin’s foreign policy team.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work on Senator Durbin’s foreign policy team,” Anabelle said. “It has been an eye-opening journey, from analyzing political prisoner cases to helping prepare the Senator for the NATO Summit in Lithuania. Working alongside the foreign policy team, who are extremely knowledgeable and hardworking, has been truly enriching. I am thankful to all of the Senator’s staff for their continuous mentorship and support, which provided me with invaluable experiences that will undoubtedly shape my future career in international relations.”
The intern responsibilities include assisting full-time staff in responding to constituent related topics, assisting with information inquiries, attending committee and agency hearings and briefings, researching legislative issues and policy questions, and observing floor proceedings. During that time, the students gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of the federal government, and develop valuable research skills.
-30-