Week 14 Seminar

This week the interns had an informative discussion with Mr. Nathan Benefield. Mr. Nathan Benefield is the Director of Policy Research at the Commonwealth Foundation. He has researched and written on public policy issues. The issues he has researched include government spending, education reform, and economic development. He writes a blog and also uses Twitter as means of communication. Mr. Benefield graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois with a degree in political science and economics. He also earned a Master’s degree in public service management from DePaul.

Mr. Benefield offered advice to the interns. He stated that three attributes he looks for when interviewing are research skills, writing skills, and passion.

The Commonwealth Foundation is an independent, non-profit research and educational institute. They develop and advance public policies based on the nation’s founding principles of limited constitutional government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility for one’s actions.

Week 13 Seminar

Mr. Guy Jensen, Deputy Executive Director for the Legislative Office of Research Liaison (LORL), spoke with the interns at this week's seminar. Mr. Jensen was an intern at LORL in 1987. He acted as an intern while attending The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Jensen was hired as a full-time Research Analyst two years later. As Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Jensen is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of LORL's Legislative Inquiry Service.

LORL is a nonpartisan research agency. They provide access to many of the state’s institutions of higher education and their faculties’ expertise. LORL was created in 1976 to be the General Assembly’s science and technology staff. The personnel at LORL respond to specific inquiries from people in the legislative branch. They have provided information on topics such as taxation, health policy, and education

Interview Day for Spring 2010 Interns

The Spring 2010 interns will be the 40th class to experience The Harrisburg Internship Semester. The new interns came to Harrisburg for interview day on Friday. During the morning, the interns were able to hear advice about the experience from the current interns. The new interns were told to relax and enjoy the day. They were offered advice on housing, networking, and interviewing. Each intern was then escorted around Harrisburg to their three interviews by a current THIS intern during the afternoon. The new interns will learn where they have been placed in the upcoming week.