08.14.23

Mount Prospect, Illinois Student Interns in Durbin's Washington, DC Office

WASHINGTON – Mount Prospect, Illinois, native Kiera Votzmeyer 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 Mount Prospect, Illinois, Kiera is entering her senior year at the University of Notre Dame this fall, majoring in gender studies, political science, and Spanish.  On campus, Kiera currently serves as the Finance Director of College Democrats and works as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science.  She is also a member of Notre Dame’s dance company.  Kiera is passionate about public policy as a means of promoting positive social change and helping others.  She greatly enjoyed spending the summer interning on Capitol Hill and supporting and learning from the work of Senator Durbin and his staff in both his personal office and the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

“I am tremendously thankful for the opportunity to intern for Senator Durbin,” Kiera said.  “Working in both the Senator’s personal office and with the Judiciary Committee provided me with great insight into the inner workings of the Senate.  I have grown professionally and personally from this experience, acquiring skills I know will be highly transferable to all my future endeavors.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Senator’s staff for the warm welcome and support they extended to me throughout my time here.”

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-