Each year, the Wilson School’s Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) funds summer internships within the U.S. federal government for high-performing Princeton students. Open to sophomores and juniors from all majors at Princeton University, the program aims to expose students to the professional skills needed to succeed in the public policy arena. This year’s internship application deadline is Nov. 6, 2019.
Adam Beasley ’20 is a Woodrow Wilson School major pursuing a Certificate in Urban Studies; as the 2019 Frederick P. Hitz ’61 SINSI Scholar, he completed an internship during summer 2019.
Q. What organization did you intern for?
Beasley: The Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Q. Why did you choose this particular internship?
Beasley: I have a passion for both service and the ways in which the legal system can be used to shape outcomes in this country, so working at the Civil Rights Division was the perfect way for me to pursue these interests. I was able to contribute to the department’s work to uphold civil rights laws across the country and also learn about ways in which the justice system can better protect people’s rights.
Q. What were some of your responsibilities?
Beasley: My biggest responsibility involved creating a comprehensive report to assist the division in understanding its impact. The report is intended to summarize current best practices for impact analysis and provide a framework for improved impact measurement and reporting across the division.
Q. What was one of your favorite moments?
Beasley: Some of the interns were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Supreme Court, and as we were walking among the Justices' chambers I saw Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg walking down the hall in front of us. We also got to play some basketball on the court above the Supreme Court, which was pretty cool!
Q. What aspects from your Princeton experience (i.e., classes, activities, skills you developed, extracurriculars, etc.) did you find yourself drawing on most during your experience?
Beasley: The skills I developed and refined during my junior task force proved to be incredibly helpful this summer. My task force involved developing innovative solutions to some of the most difficult problems in public policy, and that is precisely the kind of work I found myself doing this summer. Furthermore, my involvement with the Pace Center for Civic Engagement and my time spent working as a John C. Bogle ’51 Fellow in Civic Service after my first year were also invaluable in crafting my abilities to lead independent projects and center my work around service.
Q. What recommendations do you have for other Princeton students considering a SINSI internship?
Beasley: Absolutely go for it. Even if you have never worked in the government before (which was the case for me), spending a summer interning for the government can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and SINSI provides the support needed to ensure every intern has a great summer.