Students participate in prestigious Legislative Internship Program
With approximately 15 percent fewer internship placement opportunities available due to legislator turnover last spring—and more student applications than ever to the program—the selection process was highly competitive. Yet, the University of Hartford placed three students in this program during the spring semester: Brian Martin ’20 of the Barney School of Business, and Sara DelPiano ’21 and Dayna Dinnall ’21 of Hillyer College.
Students were introduced to the internship in a number of ways. Dinnall became aware of the opportunity through résumé boot camp events that the Office of Career and Professional Development holds for students. Martin was seeking a traditional business internship before his career advisor,Kate Darcy Hohenthal, reviewed the Legislative Internship Program with him. DelPiano, an intern for Hohenthal, was encouraged to apply with the promise that, if accepted, she would be given the spring semester off from her campus internship and hired back in the fall.
As a business major, Martin chose to follow bills relating to finance through two committees of the Connecticut General Assembly: banking, and insurance and real estate. “I tracked a bill related to creating a state infrastructure bank and how it would be funded,” Martin explains, “and that allowed me to apply what I learned in the Barney School to the internship. I was also able to meet with the state comptroller during my experience, and found it very valuable to talk to someone who works directly with the state’s finances.”
Dinnall worked for House Representative Charlie L. Stallworth. She began each day sorting through his emails, drafting responses to his constituents, and reviewing his schedule. On days when the House was in session, she would go to the State Capitol, specifically to the Democratic caucus room, to assist her legislator. When there was a public hearing involving Stallworth, she attended as well. “This internship has changed my perspective and potentially expanded my career opportunities after college,” Dinnall says. “My time at the Connecticut General Assembly has been an experience of a lifetime, to say the least.”
“The University of Hartford has had an exceptional partnership with the Legislative Internship Program for many years now,” program director Lisa Roy says. “We have high expectations of the UHart students who participate and have found them to be inquisitive and self–directed, and they take full advantage of the opportunities offered in the Connecticut General Assembly for professional development and career exploration.”
Dayna Dinnall ’21, Hillyer CollegeThis internship has changed my perspective and potentially expanded my career opportunities after college. My time at the Connecticut General Assembly has been an experience of a lifetime, to say the least.