Meet LI’s Fall Interns

September 21, 2011, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute has a tip-top class of fall interns this year.

Obed Bazikian • Rutgers University • Weehawken, New Jersey • Youth Leadership School

Obed Bazikian graduated from Rutgers University in 2010 with a degree in political science.  He was a member of the College Republicans, an assistant in the ESL graduate program, and involved in the Rutgers Telefund.  Obed also studied at the Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, where he served as a resident assistant.  He volunteered on the Chris Christie gubernatorial campaign in New Jersey and interned for World Information Transfer, an NGO for which he served as a representative at many United Nations meetings.  Obed has also done international relief work in both India and Mexico.

1.    What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

My duties as a Youth Leadership School Intern are to call potential school attendees for recruitment, gather and mail event materials, and enter information received from each YLS student into our databases.  At the end of the internship, my project will be to organize and facilitate an entire school.  This does not mean to teach every class for the school, but I will be responsible for all the planning and logistics for the event.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

Being an intern for YLS is both challenging and exciting.  I hit the ground running in the department and I had to learn a lot in a short amount of time.  With that said, my supervisors are excellent at what they do, and it has been so helpful to learn from their demonstrated skills and experience.  The skills I am learning at YLS are sharpening me to become more confident in myself and my God-given abilities.  It is this aspect of my job that is exciting for me.

3.    What are your future plans?

My future plans are to serve on staff for a public official, work in the executive branch, and run for public office on a federal level.  I would also seek to have more experience in International Relations; therefore a position in the state department for a time would be desired.

 


Thomas Cloud • University of Washington • Gig Harbor, Washington • President’s Office

Thomas Cloud graduated from the University of Washington in June 2011 with a double major in economics and history.  He was a regular contributor to his university newspaper, The Daily.  He is now a contributing writer to NextGenJournal.com, where he writes editorials on politics, current events, and college life.  Thomas also completed an internship at The Peninsula Gateway, his hometown newspaper.  He served as a student assistant in the University of Washington's economics department.  In 2011, Thomas was a finalist for the William F. Buckley Jr. Fellowship.  He has been involved in Young Americans for Liberty and the Washington Policy Center.

1.    What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

Both Morton and Cathy are very busy, so I act as a sort of catchall for everyday odds and ends. I help process Adam Smith Tie orders, file, make sure the mail gets out on time, research, and keep the jelly bean jar full among other things.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

Learning the ins and outs of maintaining and growing a successful conservative movement through LI’s schools and my co-workers is both exciting and refreshing.  

3.    What are your future plans?

My plans are always in flux but for now I am determined to write. Someday I hope to be a syndicated columnist writing on politics and whatever else piques my interest.




Charles Creitz • Temple University • Schnecksville, Pennsylvania • LI Studios/Online Pr.

Charles Creitz graduated from Temple University in May 2011 with a degree in broadcast journalism.  He recently completed an internship with the Charles G. Koch Foundation, through which he was placed with the Leadership Institute’s development department.  He completed an internship in Philadelphia with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, where he aided in recruitment efforts, made phone calls, and went door-to-door for candidates.  Charles is a city committeeman for the 20th Ward Republican City Committee of Philadelphia.  In 2009, he volunteered in the office of Representative Gary Day.  He is also an Eagle Scout.

1. What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

I will edit and produce clips and larger projects for LI Studios using Final Cut and other programs. Additionally, I will write scripts, assist with technical production of webinars including prompter, key grip, and other important positions.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

I am most excited about the possibility of honing skills and gaining experience through work and LI schools so that I can finally find a full time job in the conservative movement.

3.    What are your future plans?

Find a job. Then I can work on the more extensive plans.




Mikayla Hall • University of Washington • Gig Harbor, Washington • Recruitment

Mikayla Hall graduated from the University of Washington in June 2011 with a double major in political science and communication.  She is the northwest regional director for Young Americans for Liberty, having previously served as the Washington state chair.  While at the University of Washington, Mikayla was the College Republicans vice president, a public speaking and speechwriting tutor, and public relations advisor for the Invisible Children chapter.  She has also served as the Washington State College Republican Federation’s communications director and a youth mentor in the St. Joseph Youth Ministry program in her hometown.

1.   What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

My job duties are: running the Twitter account; strategizing more effective/efficient means of new media communication; data entry; and assisting in general outreach activities.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

I am most excited about the opportunity to practice the communications skills I learned in college in a real workplace environment—and further the conservative movement in the process.

3.    What are your future plans?

My career goal as of now is to become a speech writer. Thus, I hope that post-internship I can find communications jobs that further allow me to hone in on my writing, editing and speaking skills.




Laci Lawrence • Texas Tech University • Lubbock, Texas • Employ. Placement Services

Laci Lawrence graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law in 2011 with a biosecurity law certificate.  While at Texas Tech, Laci was the student editor for the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety, and Biodefense Law.  She was vice president of the Family Law Society, worked in the Legal Aid Clinic, and helped to bring Students for Life back to the Texas Tech campus.  She was also a fellow at the Texas Tech Center for Biodefense, Law, and Public Policy.  Laci earned a degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from Abilene Christian University.  She has volunteered at the Regional Crime Victim Crisis Center and the Taylor County Child Advocacy Center in Abilene.

1. What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

I will be helping with marketing ConservativeJobs.com to a broader audience, specifically college students around the U.S. who attend LI trainings and schools.  Each day I help Andrea search for conservative jobs, post them to the website, and broadcast the newly-posted opportunities via Facebook and Twitter.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

The most exciting part of this internship is living in D.C. and meeting new and interesting people.  My dream was to work in D.C., so now I need to find a way to stay.

3.    What are your future plans?

My plans include working for a federal agency or think tank on national security issues and public policy.




Frank Manning • University of Nottingham • London, England • Development

Frank Manning graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in European politics.  Frank is a researcher for Big Brother Watch, a civil liberties and privacy campaign think tank in London.  He has been published in numerous media outlets including Conservative Home, The Commentator, the European Journal, and Wikiminster.  After completing his degree, Frank spent a year as a trainee quantity surveyor with Ward Williams Associates in Cornwall.  He then enrolled in a Spanish language school in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Upon his return, he worked at his family’s hotel and restuarant.  In October 2010, Frank spent two weeks in Westminster to gain a better understanding of Parliament.

1. What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

I will be working with the Development team to learn as much as possible about donor relations, including direct mail, phone calls as well as face-to-face meetings. I also hope to ascertain whether the department may benefit from the expanded use of email marketing such as a weekly roundup of events for supporters of LI and easier online donations. Having used them for a campaign group that I previously worked for I think they could be very useful.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

The opportunity to experience working for a hugely successful training organization in America will give me a fresh perspective on how to operate when back in the UK. Washington is also a fantastic city to live in and I hope to make excellent contacts for the future by networking at a number of events.

3.    What are your future plans?

After completing my internship I will return to England to work as the Campaigns Coordinator for the Young Britons’ Foundation. I will utilize everything that I have learnt over the course of my three months in the Development department here at the Leadership Institute to expand the organization and attract more funding from conservative supporters in Britain. Eventually we hope to open a training center in the style of the Leadership Institute in London.




Fredrick Mckinley • Belhaven University • Jackson, Mississippi • Political Training

Fredrick Mckinley graduated from Belhaven University in April 2011 with a degree in history and a minor in political science.  Since January 2011, he has served as an aide in the elections division for the office of Mississippi Secretary of State.  He worked on the campaign to elect Jeff Weill as Circuit Court Judge.  In this role, Fredrick communicated with the candidate about how to respond to the needs of the people in the West Jackson neighborhoods.  He worked with youth groups in Mississippi and Alaska, where he developed curriculum, delivered speeches, and led programming.  Fredrick also served as a runner for the Watkins, Ludlam, Winter, & Stennis law firm and worked at Lifeway Christian Bookstore.

1. What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

My duties include assisting in the planning and implementation of Political Training Schools like the Campaign Management, Future Candidate, Online Activist, and Conservative Career Schools.  I assist with the closing of schools through data entry and reports for evaluations and blue sheets.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

I am most excited about this internship through growing professionally, developing new relationships, and learning more about the conservative movement.

3.    What are your future plans?

My future plans are to find a job in political training or grassroots organization.



Angela Mitchell • Liberty University • Hedgesville, West Virginia • Events

Angela Mitchell graduated in May 2011 from Liberty University with a degree in history.  She was a member of College Republicans, where she worked with local campaigns and voting polls.  She also served as a campus liaison for Concerned Women for America, informing women on campus about public policy issues and ways to get involved, and promoting CWA events.  Angela has extensive experience in customer service, having worked in telecommunication at In-Service America and catering and marketing at Chick-fil-A.  

1. What are your job duties within your department and what projects will you be working on this semester?

Throughout the semester I will be working on preparing LI offices and guests for the Wednesday Wake-up Club Breakfasts, the staff Christmas Party, and prep work for each of the upcoming schools.

2.    What are you most excited about in this internship?

I am mostly excited for the experience I will learn at LI.  I believe it is invaluable to whatever my future career may be! Not only am I excited about the positive, conservative work environment, but also the amazing opportunities and events that we as interns are able to attend. I am blessed, and excited at the thought of all that I am able to learn about the conservative movement as a whole throughout the course of my internship, and working with those at LI. 

3.    What are your future plans?

Although I am still forming a clear plan on what I would like to do, my future plans are definitely to establish myself with the non-profit sector. I love what I am doing at LI with events and working with the public, and would love to achieve success in event planning and/or possibly work in development.

Please welcome each LI intern!

Please click here for information on LI’s intern program.