CAPAL Federal Internship and Scholarship Programs
Interning in the public sector provides CAPAL Interns and Scholars with the opportunity to gain exposure to diverse issues and challenges facing our country. CAPAL Interns and Scholars work on topics ranging from foreign affairs, economic development, trade, and poverty reduction to environmental stewardship, food sustainability, and telecommunications policy. Below are a selection of testimonials by CAPAL’s Federal Internship, Scholarship Program, and Washington Leadership Program alumni.
2010 CAPAL Interns
Jenny Lau, Tufts University – APIAVote
Over the summer, I was afforded the opportunity to work as a field and policy associate at APIAVote, a national nonprofit that works to increase the voter engagement of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. By the end of the summer, I helped to create a voter mobilization toolkit for APIAVote’s community partners to use in their voter engagement campaigns on the ground. Additionally, I was able to travel to the Gulf Coast with other national Asian American civil rights organizations to assess the needs of Asian American fishermen who were impacted by the BP oil spill. As a policy associate, I researched local, state, and federal policies that impact voter access in AAPI communities.
I really thank CAPAL for the support it gave me to make my internship experience in D.C. possible. Besides the very useful stipend the program offered, CAPAL offered me a diverse and supportive community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about advancing the cause of AAPIs. I met AAPI student leaders from all over the country, in addition to AAPI young professionals working in D.C., who were interested in mentoring college students and recent graduates. The CAPAL program definitely added a great deal to my summer experience in D.C., as it made the U.S. Capitol’s resources more accessible by hosting panels with national leaders and by reminding us repeatedly that AAPIs belong in U.S. government too.
Uri Whang – Employee Services Intern, Office of Personnel Management
This summer was quite an experience. Arriving in DC in July, I worried that I would be so lost in the chaos of the downtown district. But CAPAL was a welcoming safe haven for me to develop both personally and professionally. I met intellectual, passionate people who were looking for the same thing as me – an experience, not just an internship, and the board members really provided sound advice and support that made my stay in DC exponentially better.
I hit the ground running at the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Upon arrival, I immediately began to sort through over a thousand evaluation papers, translated the evaluations in to data that was understandable and tangible, and wrote a 58-page report, discussing the results for senior executive review. My tasks ranged from burning CD-Rs and responding to emails to compiling information for reports to the President and editing progress reports on government strategies. While I was there, I had the opportunity to create a data tracker for the newly founded veterans’ services office at OPM and maintained OPM’s social networks on Facebook and twitter. My short summer internship was extended to a year-long work study with OPM, and this could not have been possible without the generous support of CAPAL and its relentless pursuit of furthering Asian-American leadership.
Katherine Tu, University of Chicago—Sustainable Operations, Forest Service, USDA
As a sustainable operations intern for the Forest Service, I worked on two major projects this summer. One was assisting in the completion of a comprehensive agency-wide greenhouse gas inventory that was to be submitted to the Executive branch of the government by the end of the year. The other was creating an evaluation system for the three partnerhip schools (one in Virginia, New Mexico and Arkansas) that the Forest Service had recently acquired. Working on both projects allowed me to exercise my ability to communicate with others, work in a team, assist in data compilation, learn more about the Forest Service (through the FS’s own internship program sessions) and even go on a business trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico where most of Business Operations (which Sustainable Operations is listed under) for the Forest Service is housed. This internship was so interesting to me that I have elected to work part-time remotely from school during the year so as to continue to help out with Sus Ops projects and stay in the loop.
Being a CAPAL intern meant that I had an automatic network of friends and contacts coming into DC and, if you know DC, networking is everything. The board and mentors provided a great professional base for me to actively start thinking about where I wanted to be in five to ten years. They have inspired me to dream big and really flesh out what I want to do with my life. Over the course of my eight weeks in DC, the other interns and I became a family that we leaned on to vent about work issues, explore the DC area and converse with about future plans. The strong connections and relationships we were able to forge was largely due to the mandatory Washington Leadership Program (WLP) that we attended; aside from being a free meal (a definite plus for student interns), it was a great networking opportunity, chance to learn more about how the US government works and time to re-connect with interns who don’t work in the same branch of government as you do.
Rebecca Lee, Columbia University—Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
During a 13-week internship at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I worked in the fast-paced communications office for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH). In particular, I had the opportunity to work with the ASH and the U.S. Surgeon General on their public engagements. I contributed to projects spanning the broad field of public health, such as the launches of the health reform portal HealthCare.gov and the White House’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. At HHS, I was also able to serve the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community as I helped develop communications strategies for such issues as health reform, hepatitis B, and organ donation.
The CAPAL Scholarship afforded me the tremendous opportunity to see public health at work at a federal level and helped refine my professional goals. Moreover, I am grateful for the community of like-minded, inspiring individuals I met through CAPAL. I have gained a deeper understanding of the Washington political landscape and of the need for more AAPIs to a stronger presence in public service.
Kacie Ho, University of Hawaii—Nutrient Data Lab, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Through my summer internship with CAPAL, I worked at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Nutrient Data Lab (NDL). During my internship I got the opportunity to work on the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, which is the gold standard of nutrient resources for nutrition-related research, health care, and food manufacturers. Similarly, NDL also gave me the opportunity to lead efforts in tracking sodium in foods commonly consumed nationally by Americans. I feel quite fortunate to have been able to do so, since sodium content and reduction is currently a prominent issue in the nutrition world. My experience with NDL also allowed me to work closely with knowledgeable and experienced food specialists and nutritionists within NDL, as well as with professionals in other USDA lab groups.
Being a CAPAL intern was definitely an amazing experience in that I had access to learn about the most current USDA and nutrition-related research—which ultimately better encourages me in my efforts and pursuits in a Food Science & Human Nutrition career—as well as develop professionally and personally as an individual. Also, as a CAPAL intern, participation in the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) was an eye opening experience. Through WLP I further developed my perspective on pressing national issues, including immigration and economic policy. Other than the internship and WLP program, living in the Washington DC metropolitan area and being in good company with fellow CAPAL interns and board members proved to be incredible experiences. In all honesty, I feel that I have made quality relationships and friendships with fellow interns and ever-supportive CAPAL board members. Thanks to their mentorship and guidance, I feel better equipped—professionally, emotionally, and mentally—to succeed in school, future careers, and life.
Munira Gunja, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Through CAPAL I worked at the Agricultural Research Service in the Food Surveys Research Group (FSRG). At FSRG I learned about ‘What We Eat in America’, which is the dietary portion of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). I conducted qualtiy control reviews of NHANES data, trained FSRG members on the Automated Multiple-Pass Method, and created a Recipe Archives Database.
Not only did my internship experience teach me about the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to researchers and policymakers, it gave me the opportunity to meet many people, including FSRG members, CAPAL interns and scholars, and CAPAL board members. My CAPAL experience reinforced my passion to work in the public service field in the future.
Priscilla Choi—Office of Chief Financial Officer, US Office of Personnel Management.
My summer internship experience with CAPAL has opened my eyes to life in the ’real world’ after college. The very purpose of having an internship was fulfilled. Words can’t express everything I learned this summer, from learning how to conduct myself in a professional environment, how the business world works, and the most important lesson of all: the power of connections. During my internship at OPM, I worked on a project that dealt with cleaning up accounting errors made by a newly implanted financial system. This was the first time I was able to have direct hands on experience with accounting. Since I am an accounting and finance major, I was extremely glad that I had the opportunity to see a glimpse of what my future career would be like.
At the Washington Leadership Program hosted by CAPAL, I was introduced to a range of issues affecting APA’s such as economic and immigration policy. The highlight of my summer was meeting interns from the CAPAL program as well as interns from APAICS, ILF, and OCA. It was so exciting to meet people from all different backgrounds and to hear their stories of how they ended up in DC this summer. This internship experience far exceeded my expectations and I’m so thankful to CAPAL for giving me a chance to experience this glorious city!
Uyen Truong, Boston College—Congressional and Public Affairs Office, Food and Safety Inspection Services, USDA
During my CAPAL internship I worked at the Food and Safety Inspection Services in the Congressional and Public Affairs Office as a Congressional intern. For the majority of my internship, I worked with the Congressional staff to put together briefing books which included drafting, editing and proofreading issue papers pertaining to important issues that the agency is dealing with and organizing them into binders. I also got the chance draft a couple of short speeches for my deputy director. One of the most memorable parts of my internship in the office was when my staff took me to the Hill for an Appropriation Hearing as well as a public hearing regarding catfish policies. My supervisors also took me to different departmental meetings so that I could get a better idea of the agency as a whole.
Being a CAPAL intern this past summer was one of the best experiences of my undergraduate career so far. Not only did I learn valuable skills of working in a Federal Agency but I also learned so much from the CAPAL board members as well as from other interns I met in CAPAL and other partner organizations. The best parts of my summer in D.C were those after work networking events like the Washington Leadership Program where I was able to meet prominent Asian American figures like Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Mike Honda. It was also at these events that I met some of the most inspiring, caring and thoughtful friends that I know I will be contact with for a long time. I will always be grateful to be a part of the 2010 CAPAL family.
Vinh Nguyen, University of Massachusetts Amherst—Cooperative Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, USDA
Because of the varied projects and multiple supervisors I had at the Forest Service, my experience allowed me to use different skills that I never anticipated needing. For example, although the introduction of a computerized land stewardship software allowed foresters throughout the country to share information, it only functioned in English. I was thus able to apply my Spanish-speaking background and translate the technical manual for the offices in Puerto Rico. Other experiences at the agency provided me with valuable knowledge about federal programs and how they affect real people; I sat in on committees reviewing and awarding large grants and researched state and national policies for the Forest Legacy Program that has protected nearly 2 million acres of open space.
Participating in CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program further educated me about policies and how they affect Asian Pacific Americans. Before DC, my grasp of public policy was tenuous at best, and nonexistent, at worst. Not only did attending panels on such topics as US foreign policy with Asia and immigration policy inform me about major points underlying the issues, it strengthened my resolve to work with communities of color. Seeing such passionate and proactive APA students from across the country converge every week around a different policy issue is not the norm for me, and to participate in this program was a privilege. In short, my experience in DC was tremendous.
Sara Yang, University of Georgia—Food Surveys Research Group, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
During my summer internship, I worked in the Food Surveys Research Group at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. There, I was able to gain a better understanding of how American food consumption and related behaviors are monitored and assessed. FSRG allowed me the opportunity to develop and conduct training on the USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method, provide quality assurancefor the What We Eat In America survey, and update the Recipe Archive Database. The people I worked with were warm and welcoming, and the experience was both educational and enjoyable.
CAPAL definitely helped to maximize my DC experience. The Washington Leadership Program gave me valuable insight to various aspects of our nation’s politics and gave me the chance to meet several inspirational individuals. Being a part of the CAPAL family made this summer memorable.
Natalie Quach, UC Irvine— Cooperative Forestry office, USDA Forest Service.
As part of my CAPAL internship, I worked for the USDA Forest Service (FS) in the Cooperative Forestry (CF) office. My position with CF entailed completing various projects for my supervisors, such as configuring Powerpoint presentations to be presented at national forestry conferences and commissioning an ad on an upcoming FS seminar geared towards landowner outreach. Such activities allowed me to contribute towards the CF office’s work of conserving the nation’s privately owned forest lands and build upon my personal grasp of professional skills and workplace etiquette.
I could not have asked more from my summer experience. My office supervisors were extraordinarily passionate about their work and patient enough to answer my innumerable questions about government and public policy. CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program seminars afforded me invaluable opportunities to consolidate my knowledge of various political issues, such as immigration reform andeconomic policy developments. Of course, this is to say nothing of the fellow interns, board members, and other professionals I met through the program, whose camaraderie and wisdom enlivened my DC stay in countless manners. Needless to say, this summer isn’t one I’m likely to forget anytime soon.
Lily Cheng, University of California, Berkeley—Office of the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative, US Department of State.
As a CAPAL Scholar, I interned at the US Department of State’s Office of the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative. I worked with the new Feed the Future Initiative, which emphasizes country-ownership and a comprehensive approach to development and aid. I was responsible for conducting research and analysis on Feed the Future’s increased involvement with the Asian region, in particular the countries of Nepal, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. My projects and reports also focused on the cross-cutting priorities of gender inclusion, environmental sustainability, and agricultural value chain development.
Through both my internship and time with CAPAL in DC, I learned how to link my personal experiences with international NGOs and local nonprofits to policy-making at the government level. The WLP’s variety of discussion panel topics and panelists provided an in-depth view into how politics and government are shaped. Having a community that both supported and inspired me really allowed me to absorb all that DC had to offer and bring that back home.
2009 CAPAL Interns (see picture below)
Former CAPAL Interns
Clarissa Koga, University of Hawaii – Food Survey Research Group, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
During my CAPAL internship, I worked at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Food Survey Research Group (FSRG). FSRG allowed me the opportunity to lead efforts to produce an electronic database of the large amount of food items used daily within the agency. I also worked to perform quality control on food survey results and recipes.
Being a CAPAL intern afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. The internship at ARS helped me to learn about the latest agriculture related research being conducted within USDA. Participation in CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provided me with comprehensive insight into our nation’s most prominent issues such as health care and foreign policy. Aside from the ARS internship and WLP, I believe the best aspect of the experience was spending the summer in Washington, DC and being a part of the CAPAL family. The CAPAL board members gave all of the interns continual guidance and encouraged our professional development. Overall, the experience of being a CAPAL intern was invaluable and words cannot do it justice.
Carla Laurel, University of San Francisco – Rural Utilities Services, Rural Development, USDA
My internship placement was in the USDA’s Rural Development, Rural Utilities Services (RUS) division. Because it was such an exciting time to be in Washington, the majority of my work had to do with the stimulus package given to RUS. I worked closely with those designing the application and economic framework for the distribution of loans and grants. As an economics major, they made sure to connect me with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Economist and I was able to assist him with the economic analysis of the stimulus package. Essentially, through the internship placement with CAPAL, I was privileged to work directly with extraordinary people and projects that were relevant to major issues being discussed in Washington. Additionally, I was able to utilize my skills and gain experience doing work in my desired field of economic development. The CAPAL experience goes beyond the privileged Washington Leadership Program seminars at the Capitol Building. It is more than the internship placement at the USDA, and even the opportunities you are given to be surrounded by inspirational, high-ranking Asian American governmental officials. CAPAL immerses you into a community of people who want to inspire, cultivate, and help assist young Asian American leaders interested in making a difference. The support and experience I had in Washington, DC went beyond my expectations. Among other organizations, CAPAL genuinely cares about your leadership development, as well as your personal development in DC. Overall, the CAPAL experience gave me the support and confidence to pursue my public service goals not only in Washington, DC, but in my local community.
Annelisa Luong, UC Berkeley – Urban and Community Forestry, Cooperative Forestry, Forest Service, USDA
During my internship, I worked closely with the directors of the Urban and Community Forestry division of Cooperative Forestry. The Forest Service (FS) is a very unique part of the United States Department of Agriculture as they have a tight-knit staff. In the USDA, there was a series of speaker series where interns of all types got the chance to meet officials working in different fields in the USDA. FS had a program specifically for their interns. It was great to have these different events to learn more about opportunities in government positions. As an intern, I learned about the different divisions within FS and the varieties of programs within Urban and Community Forestry. I was encouraged to work with people outside of my specific office and to attend conferences nearby. I attended meetings in which the program coordinators discussed how the projects were moving forward. On a day to day basis, I helped organize a speaker series that educated FS employees and the general public about topics in urban forestry. I also provided an assessment of Urban and Community Forestry’s website in hopes of streamlining it and making it more user friendly. I even had the chance to work with the Litigations division of FS after learning about what the work entailed. FS is a place where one can really explore the different types of jobs in the agency. Interning in Washington was a very exciting and eye-opening experience for me. In general, being in DC really influenced me to enter public service and really drove me to work in politics because I was inspired by the amazing people surrounding me. CAPAL really helped me by providing a network of people who were familiar with the area and community. The WLP seminars allowed me to meet other interns in other programs, as well as experienced APA professionals in DC. CAPAL’s WLP sessions gave us the opportunities to learn about programs we established in our respective communities. It was also comforting to know that the Board of Directors was there to mentor us and support us in this learning experience.
Chinh Tran, Stanford – Agricultural Research Services, USDA
During my internship at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), I worked on various research projects that dealt with how processed foods can be used to prevent obesity. I was exposed to a new laboratory and research setting and learned a lot about the research process. Specifically, I was part of a project that looked at different starch polymer diets and its role in the development of metabolic syndrome in rats and hamsters, and I also worked on protein extraction samples and blueberry research. I enjoyed my time at the ARS because I was able to do a wide variety of things and helped with a lot of different projects, so every week of my internship had a new and different aspect to it.
Hsiang-Wen (Winnie) Wang, University of Pennsylvania – Office of Catfish Inspection Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA
In the summer of 2009, I interned at the Office of Catfish Inspection Programs (OCIP), a division under the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). My daily duties included proofreading and editing documents, drafting memorandums, researching, and compiling data in Excel. In addition to these duties, I attended weekly staff meetings to report on the progress for my projects. I had three main projects during my time with OCIP. My first project entailed researching, analyzing, and compiling data for catfish imports and exports. Using Excel, I compiled tables and graphs for the amount of catfish imported into the US from different countries. My second project consisted of drafting a five-year strategic plan for OCIP to define the division’s missions and goals. For my third project, I had to research and gather information on personnel misconduct investigations. Within every agency, there are established guidelines regarding proper behavior and conduct in the workplace. My job was to compile and synthesize the rules and guidelines into a PowerPoint presentation, which was then used to guide investigators to conduct investigations.
My CAPAL experience was extremely rewarding. Without CAPAL, I would never have had the opportunity to work with such a great group of people in OCIP or meet so many ambitious individuals through CAPAL’s WLP workshops. Through WLP, I learned about policy topics ranging from health care, to foreign affairs, to the domestic economy, and many more. The different groups of panelists at WLP each week provided us with varying perspectives into the same issue or topic. I walked out of CAPAL and WLP with a much deeper understanding of public policy. Not only that, I had the chance to network with various professionals working in the field of public policy. The conversations and relationships I established with them opened doors and disclosed to me many career options available in this field. Thanks to CAPAL, I made great, life-long friends. I know I will keep in touch with them for a long time to come.
Barbara Wei, University of Pennsylvania – State Outreach and Technical Assistance, Office of Employee Education and Training, Food Safety Inspection Service, USDA
This summer I interned at the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Services division, specifically the State Outreach and Technical Assistance division within the Office of Employee Education and Training. Under the supervision of Ralph Stafko, JD and Dr. Janet McGinn, I was able to learn extensively about the federal government’s role in the regulation of food safety at the retail, wholesale and production levels. During my internship, I completed many projects including starting an internal newsletter to increase communication between the departments within the Office of Employee Education and Training, as well as developing PowerPoint presentations for pitching new projects. In addition, I was also able to attend many special events including Unity Day (which brought together all of the departments of FSIS) and conferences that related to food safety issues in the DC area. I was also given the opportunity to structure my own experience. This meant that my supervisor brought me to many high level meetings, and allowed me to meet many people from different departments. After making these connections, I set up appointments with these people to discuss their job functions, and their career paths. I was able to hold conversations with people in the international policy division, as well as people from the industry side such as the food safety manager for Shoppers foods. Lastly, this internship really allowed me to see the effect of USDA’s FSIS group in action, as they organized three field trips for the interns to go to large and small slaughterhouses for beef, poultry and swine. This nine week experience greatly increased my knowledge about the federal government and the role it has in regulating and implementing laws. In addition to completing projects, I was also able to learn more about the divisions within USDA, and its role in the meat and poultry industry.
Former CAPAL Scholar
Tony Nguyen, University of Pennsylvania – China Desk, Bureau of East Asian-Pacific Affairs, Department of State
Greetings Potential CAPAL Interns,
My name is Tony Nguyen, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. Last summer, I was offered the extraordinary opportunity to intern at the US Department of State in the Bureau of East Asian-Pacific Affairs, China Desk. My office is in charge of handling international affairs with China, Hong Kong, and Mongolia.
Working at the China Desk was dynamic. Aside from daily tasks such as attending office meetings and writing diplomatic briefs to the US Embassy in Beijing, I never knew what to expect. Some of my exciting responsibilities included escorting the US Mongolian Ambassador to meetings and organizing a high level US-China conference in which I got to see President Barack Obama and shook hands with Hillary Clinton! Although my experience is specific only to those working in my bureau, every State Department intern, regardless of their division, can expect a summer filled with learning and excitement.
Overall, my summer in DC was one of the best summers of my life—largely thanks to my experiences with CAPAL. As a CAPAL intern, I took part in its exciting Washington Leadership Program (WLP) inside the US Capitol building. During these seminars, I made life-long connections with motivated peers like myself and networked with public policy leaders from a variety of organizations throughout DC. I also attended fun CAPAL get-togethers and bonded with other members over activities ranging from barbeques to hiking trips. In short, CAPAL not only offered me opportunities to further my public service career goals, it also offered me a “family” away from home—an experience I will always cherish.
Former Washington Leadership Program Participant
Benny Du – Department of Justice
I was part of the WLP during the summer of 2005 when I served as an intern at the Department of Justice—United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The first event I attended was not only a great source of information and contacts for me in terms of looking for opportunities in the future, but was also an inspiration for me and boosted my desire to want to be a part of public service even more.
