Vinson Fellows Present Results of Internship Projects
Four University of Georgia undergraduates capped semester-long internships through the Vinson Institute Fellows Program December 12 by presenting their project results to Institute faculty and staff.
Vinson Fellows work with faculty mentors on hands-on projects that allow them to meet elected officials in Georgia and beyond, examine issues that bear national implications, and delve into international affairs. The internships give fellows the opportunity to explore the possibility of future careers in public service.
Jacqueline van der Veldt, a double major in English and international affairs from St. Simons Island, investigated "Immigration Issues at the Slovak-Ukrainian Border" with her mentor, Dr. Rusty Brooks, associate director of the International Center.
Matt Tyler, a political science major from Atlanta, studied ways partisanship and public opinion affect energy issues brought before the Georgia General Assembly. Tyler worked with faculty mentor Rob McDowell, director of the Institute's Environmental Policy Program, on "Public Opinion, Politics, and Energy Policy in the State of Georgia."
"Non-Lawyer Judges in the United States" by Seth Taylor, a history and political science major from Powder Springs, examined ways in which states train and manage lay judges. Faculty mentor Anna Boling from the Institute's training division worked with Taylor, who plans to participate in Teach for America before enrolling in law school.
Jack Dishner investigated factors that city and county government leaders consider when negotiating Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) distributions in his project, "LOST Negotiations." Dishner, an international affairs major from Bedford Corners, New York, examined the LOST negotiation process under the guidance of faculty mentor Betty Hudson from the Institute's local government services unit.
The Vinson Institute Fellows Program fall internship is open to all UGA undergraduates. The Institute works with the UGA Honors Program and the university's chapter of the Roosevelt Institute to select the fellows for each spring semester cohort. Students interested in applying for the fellows program can contact coordinator Abigail Lloyd at abglloyd@uga.edu for more information.
