In Their Own Words: Panetta Intern Rose Velasquez ’27 on Building Bridges and Shaping Policy in Washington, DC

In Their Own Words is a series in which we introduce you to the Gaels you need to meet—students, alums, faculty, and staff—and let them tell their stories, in their own words.

Today, we’re highlighting Rose Velasquez ’27: a Politics and Economics double major, recipient of the Politics Departmental Scholarship, and a Social Justice Advocate at the Intercultural Center. This year, Velasquez was selected as Saint Mary’s representative for the Panetta Institute's Congressional Internship Program. Established by Leon Panetta—the long-serving California congressman who went on to become Director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, among other roles—and his wife, Sylvia, the semester-long program allows a select group of students to intern with members of the US House of Representatives. Velasquez currently serves in the office of Representative Derek Tran of California’s 45th District.

Choosing Saint Mary’s 

Prior to my freshman year at Saint Mary’s, I spoke with the Politics department about the Departmental Scholarship and decided to apply for it. As part of the process, I visited Saint Mary’s and interviewed with Patrizia Longo, who was the chair of the Politics department at the time. After the interview, a Politics student named Maddie Martinez ’24 walked me to my room. We were able to connect on many different levels, being Latina and in the political space. Maddie suggested I look into the Panetta Internship when I got further in my journey at Saint Mary's. 

That day, meeting and being inspired by Maddie was the main reason I chose to attend Saint Mary’s. For one thing, I did receive the departmental scholarship. And also, I now knew that Saint Mary’s had unique opportunities like the Panetta Internship.

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The path to Panetta 

Going into my junior year, I was eligible to apply to the internship. I spoke with my residence director, Philip Goodwin ’16, who was actually the first participant from Saint Mary’s in the Panetta program. He helped me through the process of applying , walking me through the financials and prepping for all the different interviews. 

In April, I interviewed with President Roger Thompson and then, eventually, with the Panetta program itself. The final step was an interview with the office of Representative Derek Tran of California’s 45th District. And now, a few months later, I’m working in his congressional office in Washington, DC. 

I'm from Merced, originally, in the Central Valley, and went to school in the East Bay. So I wasn’t very familiar with Tran’s district, which encompasses Orange County and parts of Los Angeles. I learned it is very split—it's about as purple as a district can get. Tran, a Democrat, won his election by only 500 votes, and his predecessor was a Republican. 

The internship experience

I’m a few weeks in right now, and the program has been really amazing. I've been attending numerous briefings, where different companies or representatives come in and discuss legislation that will be on the table soon. I go in and represent Tran’s legislative team, taking notes and creating a memo summarizing the meeting.

Otherwise, I spend a lot of time communicating with our constituents, whether that’s speaking with them on the phone or responding to emails. It’s our office's policy that our constituents should be able to actually speak to someone, so we always call back when someone leaves a voicemail. That’s not every office’s policy, but it’s our policy, which I appreciate.

“My presence in DC means there’s one more Latinx person at the table, which is always a positive thing...I’m carrying my grandparents, and parents, and sibling with me, representing them in everything I do.”

Holding onto civility—and hope

It's definitely a tumultuous moment to be in Washington, DC, especially in regards to the political division in our country. But that’s why I’m so passionate about bipartisanship. Before this internship, I was Vice President of the Saint Mary’s chapter of a club called Bridge USA; our goal is to have bipartisan conversations about controversial topics. That doesn’t necessarily mean everyone has to agree. But we need to be able to talk through the things we disagree about. I don’t think our country is currently doing much of that.

The Panetta Internship has definitely inspired me to further my education and continue in the realm of politics. I do see that change is possible, and want to be, as the musical Hamilton puts it, “in the room where it happens.” After I graduate next May, I hope to pursue a master’s in Public Policy or Public Health. 

The power of representation 

It's a different experience being a Latina on the Hill, especially coming from California. Growing up, I never had to go more than 30 minutes to find community. Here, though, we’re definitely a minority-minority.

Still, I've always seen myself as a representative for my people. Policy creates change, which is one reason why it matters so much to me. My presence in DC means there’s one more Latinx person at the table, which is always a positive thing. Every generation builds on the one before, my dad always told me. That means I’m carrying my grandparents, and parents, and sibling with me, representing them in everything I do. It’s never just about me or about my concerns. It's always about the places I represent. 

Attending Saint Mary's, too, has created an entirely new community that influences the way that I think. I work at the Intercultural Center and will when I return to campus. Being in that space has really informed the way I think about change, culture, and my own identity.

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Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month on the Hill

I’m super excited to be in DC for Latinx Heritage Month. I’ve just joined the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, or CHSA, and we’re hosting a number of events throughout the month. I’m excited to network and talk to other successful Latinos. The fact is, we do make this country better, economically and culturally. We are succeeding across all boards and all measures. Certainly before Trump took office, we had more new small businesses than any other demographic, and were growing in education more than any other demographic. 

I recently had a coffee chat with Leonardo Mendoza-Bernuy, president of CHSA. He’s a first-generation American like me; he was originally from Peru, and my father was born in Michoacan, Mexico. One thing that Leonardo shared with me during our coffee chat was you have to work hard to prove yourself, especially as a young person in politics. That resonated with me. Within the Mexican community, there’s an understanding that you work hard, no matter what you do. 

That work ethic is something I hold close to my heart. I work hard not just for me, but for everyone before, and everyone like me.

Advice for current and future Gaels

I know that sometimes, walking into a room, you're going to feel uncomfortable. It can be intimidating walking into these spaces. But you have to be confident in yourself, not trying to change and code-switch in every situation. Just be yourself. 

People recognize authenticity, and your story is important. So be authentic, be confident, and really lean on those around you. 

Some people have an uncle who works in politics, and they can just text them for an internship. But for a lot of us, that’s not the case. It wasn’t for me. So it just means working ten times harder to make those connections, build your foundation, and create your path toward what you want.

(This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.)

Anne Williston MFA ’27 is a graduate editorial fellow with the Office of Marketing and Communications at Saint Mary’s. Write her.