I am a University of Maryland-College Park (UMCP) senior, majoring in geography with an expected graduation in December 2014.  I am interested in human geography, specifically smart growth and the economic development of underserved communities.  Although I am pursuing a second bachelor’s degree at UMCP, I am a West Point graduate, and have a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  I also retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel. 

From June 1^st until August 8th, 2014, out of 100 applicants, I was one of 20 interns who participated in the Governor’s Summer Internship Program (GSIP) sponsored by the state of Maryland.  The GSIP experience was interesting and substantive.  Several state agencies such as the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and Department of Planning sponsored interns.  Based on their agency placement, each GSIP intern group was responsible for recommending a policy to improve the state of Maryland, and writing a group paper on the issue.  On the last day of the GSIP, the five GSIP groups briefed Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland and his staff on their paper topics and recommendations. 

As part of the GSIP, I interned in the state’s Office of Outreach and Grants Management (OGM), which is part of MHEC in Baltimore.  My mentor was the Director of OGM.  During my internship, I wrote content for the MDGO4IT website, which provides outreach information for veterans, adult learners, and high school students about career preparation and college opportunities, including financial aid.  In addition, I reviewed and scored outreach program proposals from sixteen competing colleges for grant funding; participated on the grant selection panel; and finally wrote grant funding approval letters to the selected college and university recipients.  I also accompanied anOGM grant manager on a site visit to evaluate a current grant recipient.

Interning at MHEC and the Maryland State Department of Education, our GSIP intern group selected the policy of increasing funding and capacity for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) within secondary schools across Maryland.  PBIS is a framework to improve school climate, and reduce suspensions and expulsions for students to enhance opportunities for future career and college opportunities.  PBIS implementation also focuses on the geographical layout of a school’s areas such as the hallways, cafeteria, and gym as well as the personal interactions between teachers, parents, administrators, and students within the school space.

The GSIP internship was relevant to my Geographical Studies because PBIS implementation deals with the aspects of place and space in the school environment from the classroom to the school overall.  Using my Geographical Studies degree, I am interested in working at the state or federal level.  Therefore, my GSIP participation also was a perfect opportunity to experience coordination activities, intra-agency communication, and policy development at the state level.