As a senior at American University in Washington, D.C., I first learned about The Institute of World Politics (IWP) by attending their on-campus lectures and book talks as a guest. Needless to say, being able to intern on the Events and Communications team at IWP and helping to bring those talks to a new virtual audience, has been the highlight of my semester. The Institute’s commitment to fostering the next generation of national security, intelligence, and statecraft experts was apparent in all facets of my experience.
The team at IWP went out of their way to accommodate my interest in cybersecurity and related policy. For example, one common intern task was to write up articles about events and discussions held by IWP, and I was able to select events that interested me the most. Also, I had the opportunity to audit the course “Cyber Strategy Development” taught by Professor Joe Billingsley, where I was introduced to the complexities of strategy development. I was then able to practice and apply my briefing and analytical skills to assess the Cyber Security Strategy of Ukraine.
Even given the unique circumstances of having a remote internship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IWP emphasized creating an inclusive work environment. Not only my supervisor, but the entire team was communicative and friendly. Through the course of my internship, I developed my online teamwork and communication skillsets to prepare myself for future collaborative work environments. Even though we were all working remotely from different parts of the country, there was a true feeling of contributing to the Institute. Having been to the Institute now as both a guest and an intern, I can definitively say that IWP wholly prepares you for a successful career in national security.
Evan Gertler
Fall 2020