Work for a Member of Congress with a Panetta Internship

by Politics Department | March 20, 2026

Since 2014, Saint Mary’s College has chosen one student to participate in the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program, recognized as one of the best internship programs in the country. Students have the opportunity to work full-time for a member of Congress while earning college credit in a semester-long fall internship in Washington, D.C. For 2026, the internship will take place in the nation's capital, from Sunday, August 10, through Friday, November 7.

The application process has begun for the Fall 2026 internship. Students from all majors, who will be juniors or seniors in the 2026-27 Academic Year, are encouraged to apply. For more information, please contact Moriah Dunning at mnd7@stmarys-ca.edu. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 8, 2026 by 12pm.

Past participants from Saint Mary’s College include:

2025 – Rose Velasquez, Politics and Economics major, Class of 2026
2024 – Michael Hurley, Politics major, Class of 2026
2022 – Maddie Martinez, Politics major, Data Science minor, Class of 2024
2021 – Akayla Shrivastava, Politics/Psychology double major, Class of 2023
2020 – Ivett Arellano, Politics major, Class of 2021
2019 – Christopher Harris, Politics major, Class of 2021
2018 – Ashley Sugar, Philosophy/Politics double major, Class of 2020
2017 – Salma Zaragosa, Politics major, Class of 2018
2016 – Maddie Yocum, Politics major, Class of 2017
2015 – Megan Collins, Politics major, Class of 2017
2014 – Philip Goodwin, Politics major, Class of 2016