Internship: Public Policy

Vincent Pacileo (IMJR in Public Policy Analysis) spent summer 2009 as an intern in the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut, Legislative and Elections Administration Division (LEAD).

“This past summer, I served as an intern for the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut in the Legislative and Elections Administration Division (LEAD). The division is responsible for administering elections for the entire state of Connecticut, including nominating procedures and voting rights. Additionally, LEAD is responsible for maintaining records of all acts and resolutions passed by the General Assembly. I decided to pursue an internship with LEAD because of the opportunities available to interact with the general public and learn more about the electoral process in the state.”

“While in the office, I spent a significant portion of my time helping with the 2009 municipal election preparations. In particular, I reviewed Nominating Petitions and used past election results to determine if a party had achieved minor party status. If minor party status was reached, candidates could then be nominated for ballot placement. In addition to working closely with minor parties, I spent time learning about the process by which individuals can become a Notary Public and analyzed Public Acts from the 2009 legislative session to determine whether they would have any impact on the division.”

“I also worked with several UConn alumni, one of whom was Staff Attorney Lewis Button, CLAS ’93, Law ’99. He provided insight not only into the operations of the division but also his experiences in law school, a postgraduate path I am considering. I valued the time I spent getting to know individuals in the division. They were always willing to answer any questions I had and by doing so allowed me to have an enjoyable internship experience.”

Vincent’s advice to those students who are considering an internship:

“I highly recommend pursuing an internship. Gaining experience in a field related to your major not only allows you to realize whether the field or career path is right for you, but places you in ‘real-world’ situations that test your knowledge and improve your skills and abilities.”