PIPS E-Interns Gain Experience with Leading Security, Policy Entities around the World

by Dylan Vorbach | March 18, 2014

With the announcement of new students joining its E-Internship program, William & Mary’s Project for International Peace & Security (PIPS) continues to fulfill its mission of connecting the academic and foreign policy communities. Still in its first year, the E-Internship program connects students with government agencies and foreign policy-related organizations, giving students opportunities to apply their studies in government and international relations to current research and policymaking.

The program now includes 13 students working remotely in a variety of capacities, from journalism to geospatial analysis. Program director, Kathryn H. Floyd, guides the interns in securing assignments as well as mentoring them in their work. According to Floyd, “the PIPS E-Internship program is a tremendous opportunity for students to work with leading security and foreign policy organizations around the world. Undergraduate education at William and Mary is doing more than rising to meet the latest industry trends; we are transforming at the same rate. From the colonial town of Williamsburg, one of our students answers to a boss in Germany and another to Singapore.” The program benefits from strong connections to both private sector and government agencies, and Floyd went on to say, “we are incredibly grateful to all the participating organizations for their invaluable mentoring.”

PIPS 2013-2014 E-Interns

	Michael Aiken Organization: Diplomatic Courier Field/Focus: copywriting/editing on China, urban agriculture, gender gap
	Michael Campbell Organization: Congressional Research Service Field/Focus: Defense Policy, Arms Control
	Josh Cohen Organization: Center for International Maritime Security
	Peter Colwell Organization: Xanadu Geographyx Field/Focus: Modeling/simulation, GIS, remote sensing, digital cartography
	Daniel Duane Organization: U.S. Air Force – Air Combat Command (Int’l Affairs Office ) Field/Focus: policy brief on Fort Hood shooting
	Melanie Gilbert Organization: International Institute for Strategic Studies (Armed Conflict Database) Field/Focus: Human security, political trends, security developments in Syria
	Sophia Mortensen Organization: U.S. Air Force – Air Combat Command (Int’l Affairs Office) Field/Focus: Maintaining international partnerships within fiscal constraints
	Luke Nicastro Organization: U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Field/Focus: Research/Development supporting future War games
	April Smith Organization: United States European Command (EUCOM) Field/Focus: Strategic Engagement Planning
	Taylor Renard Organization: U.S. Air Force – Air Combat Command Field/Focus: Global Health
	Chelsea Strelser Organization: U.S. Air Force – Air Combat Command Field/Focus: Global Health, Conflict Zone Vaccinations
	Megan Willmes Organization: Center for International Maritime Security
	Jimmy Zhang Organization: U.S. Air Force - Air Combat Command Field/Focus: Conducting research on internal organization, hiring, promotion, and training practices

Students interested in applying to join the E-Internship program can find more information here: http://www.wm.edu/offices/itpir/pips/E-Internship%20Program/index.php