Academic Programs

Study in D.C.

Immersed, hands-on learning is integral to Wake Forest’s holistic approach to education.

To facilitate real-world engagement, the University has forged relationships with numerous agencies, organizations and individuals in the nation’s capital, many in close proximity to the Wake Washington Center. Through opportunities like internships, shadowing and mentorship, Wake Washington students experience real-time learning unique to on-the-job immersion.

To tie experiential learning with classroom instruction, students in the internship and study program also conduct independent research, making meaningful connections and providing cohesion to their inside- and outside-the-classroom experiences. Students intern Monday-Thursday full time and take classes in the evenings. Fridays are reserved for students to hear from alumni and parent speakers, special tours of museums, the Capitol, the Pentagon, etc., as well as networking with alumni, parents in their field of interest. Watch this video to hear what University leaders and D.C. area alumni have to say about Wake Washington.

Past Internship Providers

  • American Enterprise Institute
  • American Foreign Policy Council 
  • APCO Worldwide
  • Center for Strategic & International Studies  
  • Cornerstone Government Affairs
  • Hudson Institute
  • US Asia Institute
  • US Department of Defense
  • US Department of Education
  • US Department of State
  • See Full List

Meet the Spring 2023 Students

  • David Asiedu (’24)

    Hometown: Bronx, NY
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minor: Global Trade & Commerce Studies
    Internship: Rep. Kathy Manning (NC)
    Studied abroad?: United Kingdom
    Favorite place on campus: Reynolda trails
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Betina Wilkinson (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: I like to spend time with friends, watch and play sports, listen to music and bike.
    Career/industry interests: I am interested in pursuing a career in business law!
    If I had a superpower it would be: Speed
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: I am looking forward to learning more about the legislative process and making new connections while exploring DC!

  • Henry Bieze (’24)

    Hometown: Atlanta, GA
    Majors: Politics & International Affairs; Art History
    Internship: US Department of Defense, Legal Advisory Committee
    Studied abroad?: England and Scotland
    Favorite place on campus: ZSR Library
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Morna O’Neill (Art)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Whitewater kayaking, hiking, and camping
    Career/industry interests: Law, politics
    If I had a superpower it would be: Teleportation
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Knowing the city of DC really well

  • Olivia Bredel (’24)

    Hometown: San Carlos, CA
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minor: Sociology
    Internship: US Department of Defense, Legislative Affairs
    Favorite place on campus: Reynolda trails
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Steve Gunkel (Sociology)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Spending time with friends, going on runs, and visiting the beach
    Career/industry interests: National security, public health, defense strategies
    If I had a superpower it would be: Super speed
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Starting my internship

  • Will Gardner (’24)

    Hometown: Wayland, MA
    Majors: Politics & International Affairs; Economics
    Internship: Mercury Public Affairs
    Favorite place on campus: The Pit check-in line with Miss Sonetta
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Katy Harriger (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Running or exercising, playing or watching tennis, reading a good novel, and/or spending time with my friends
    Career/industry interests: I am passionate about American Constitutional Law and Foreign Policy, so careers that involve either one of those areas are of particular interest to me. I would also be interested in working in a political strategy/consulting firm in DC.
    If I had a superpower it would be: Mind reading or having lightning speed
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Having a meaningful and informative internship experience and taking two fantastic courses with Dr. Harriger

  • Jacob Graff (’24)

    Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minors: Communication; History
    Internship: US Department of Education, Legislation & Congressional Affairs
    Studied abroad?: London
    Favorite place on campus: ZSR Library
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Carrie Coberly (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Reading and watching TV/movies
    Career/industry interests: Government relations, foreign policy, lobbying
    If I had a superpower it would be: Invisibility
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Working in DC

  • Haley Harris (’24)

    Hometown: Tampa, FL
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minor: History
    Internship: Rep. Kathy Manning (NC)
    Studied abroad?: Germany, Austria, Czech Republic
    Favorite place on campus: Firepits on Manchester
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Ali Sakkal (Education)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Cooking, painting with friends, reading outside
    Career/industry interests: Policy research, advocacy groups
    If I had a superpower it would be: Flying
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Living in DC – visiting museums and trying new restaurants

  • Lily Klett (’24)

    Hometown: Charlotte, NC
    Majors: Politics & International Affairs; English
    Internship: Forbes Tate Partners
    Favorite place on campus: Reynolda trails
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Going on walks, trying new restaurants
    Career/industry interests: Lobbying, government relations
    If I had a superpower it would be: Ability to read minds
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: My internship and exploring DC

  • Ronan Martin (’24)

    Hometown: Chicago, IL
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minors: Middle East & South Asian Studies; African Studies
    Internship: Middle East Institute
    Studied abroad?: Cairo, Egypt
    Favorite place on campus: Firepits on Manchester Plaza
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Mark Vail (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Playing soccer, hiking, learning foreign languages
    Career/industry interests: Civil service, foreign policy, foreign service
    If I had a superpower it would be: Flying
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Gaining valuable experience and contributing to an organization I am interested in

  • Aditi Samavedy (’24)

    Hometown: Knoxville, TN
    Major: Psychology
    Minors: Politics & International Affairs; Sociology
    Internship: American Public Health Association
    Favorite place on campus: Camino Bakery
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Veronica Cole (Psychology)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: I love to sing, spend time with friends, and run
    Career/industry interests: Law, public policy
    If I had a superpower it would be: Telepathy
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: I’m looking forward to being paired with a mentor and connecting with Wake alumni to not only help me further my career, but also to gain a personal connection.

  • Bayla Sheshadri (’25)

    Hometown: Cary, NC
    Majors: Politics & International Affairs; Anthropology
    Internship: Rep. Alma Adams (NC)
    Favorite place on campus: The chairs outside Reynolda facing the chapel
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Katy Harriger (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: I love to read, travel, and spend time with friends and family
    Career/industry interests: Law
    If I had a superpower it would be: Teleportation
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: I am looking forward to getting to explore, live, and work in DC while taking classes that I am really interested in

  • Joshua Singh (’24)

    Hometown: Ozone Park, NY
    Majors: Politics & International Affairs; History
    Minor: Middle East & South Asian Studies
    Internship: American Enterprise Institute, Government Relations
    Studied abroad?: Guyana; Trinidad
    Favorite place on campus: I have a little office in Tribble which I love
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Rais Rahman (History)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Legos, the gym, and doing calligraphy
    Career/industry interests: I am looking into law perhaps, but right now consultancy and the defense industry seem to be calling my way
    If I had a superpower it would be: Teleportation
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Being able to simulate living in DC

  • Sophie Small (’24)

    Hometown: Washington, DC
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minors: Arabic; Middle East & South Asian Studies; History, concentration in Jewish Studies
    Internship: American Enterprise Institute, Critical Threats Project
    Studied abroad?: Italy; Cairo, Egypt; Copenhagen, Denmark
    Favorite place on campus: Reynolda Gardens
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Sarah Lischer (Politics & International Affairs)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: I love to travel as much as I possibly can. Some of my recent favorite trips have been to Guatemala, Latvia, and Fiji! At home, I love going on runs with my mom and we are both looking forward to running a marathon in New Zealand this May!
    Career/industry interests: The Foreign Service is the industry I am most interested in at the moment. If not that, I hope to make a career in international humanitarian law.
    If I had a superpower it would be: To be able to speak every language to be able to communicate with everyone in the world.
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: Since I am from Washington, DC, I am really excited to live in a place that already feels like home as a working adult. I hope to gain more insight into the professional field and can’t wait to work for a company I have always admired.

  • Lindsay Tucker (’24)

    Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
    Major: Politics & International Affairs
    Minor: Religious Studies
    Internship: US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
    Favorite WFU professor: Dr. Lynn Neal (Study of Religions)
    Favorite ways to spend free time: Going on walks, photography, watching movies
    Career/industry interests: All types! I am primarily hoping to explore careers in the federal government.
    If I had a superpower it would be: Teleportation
    What I’m most looking forward to this semester: I am looking forward to being in a new place and being able to connect with different people, both professionally and socially.



Wake Forest School of Law: D.C. Summer Judicial Externship Program

The D.C. Summer Judicial Externship Program (“DCSJE”) is an exciting opportunity that places first-year and second-year law students into unpaid summer externships at some of the most vibrant and influential courts and federal agencies in Washington, D.C. Students spend at least eight weeks during the summer externing at a participating court or agency in Washington, D.C. They also attend a weekly, evening experiential course that is tailored to judicial clerking.  The course is taught by Professor Abigail Perdue, a former federal law clerk and author of The All-Inclusive Guide to Judicial Clerking. DCSJE students hear from engaging guest speakers, have lunch with federal judges, and visit historical points of interest. Students are also paired with one or more Wake Forest University School of Law alumni living and working in the Washington, D.C. area, who mentor them throughout the summer.