Statesmanship Students Bolster Their Education with Fellowships and Internships
Written by Madelaine Christensen
Each semester, students in the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship are engaged in the rigorous study of political philosophy and American political theory and practice. During the summer months, many students choose to continue their education through fellowships and internships with Hillsdale and across the world.
Some Hillsdale graduate students study in foreign countries. During the summer of 2023, Ph.D. student Theodore Madrid studied as a fellow with the Tertio Millennio Seminar (TMS) in Kraków, Poland.
As a TMS fellow, Madrid spent a month exploring the foundations of a free society with graduate students and young professionals from Poland and across Eastern Europe. The fellows, drawn from many disciplines including journalism, law, and political science, engaged in study and discussion of Catholic social doctrine and its applications to the challenges of modernity, including religious freedom and the role of the family in society.
“My colleagues on these seminars, along with the eminent lecturers, made the experiences deeply enriching and immensely enjoyable,” Marid said. “They brought both expertise unlike my own and a mighty enthusiasm, which we all shared, to bear on the questions of the free society in a delightful and fruitful manner for which I am grateful.”
TMS had an especial focus on the social thought of Pope John Paul II, who Madrid said is one of his lifelong heroes.
“He was a tireless and mighty defender of human freedom against the noxious ideologies of the 20th century, under which he himself suffered immensely,” Madrid said. “The opportunity to become deeply familiar with the land and people where he was raised and which he so deeply loved has proven both a great personal treasure and a forceful impetus to cherish and defend my own home with similar vigor.”
While Hillsdale graduate students find summer opportunities abroad, they also find transformational experiences closer to campus. Christina Grattan, ’24, M.A., spent the summer of 2023 as part of the Acton Emerging Leaders Program with the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The program included eight weeks of leadership development training and the opportunity to help run Acton’s yearly conference, Acton University.
During the program, Grattan had the opportunity to hear from various speakers on free enterprise. She also completed a capstone research project, contributing to a series of op-eds investigating human flourishing in Generation Z.
The highlight of the program for Grattan, though, was the connections she made with the other interns at Acton. When she wasn’t busy with research or prepping for conferences, Grattan enjoyed getting together with like-minded friends for late-night discussions and meals and weekend trips to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and museums in Chicago.
“It was great spending time with people who are devoted to learning about the foundations of free and virtuous societies,” Grattan said. “The other interns at Acton helped shape who I am, and made the internship an experience I will never forget.”
In addition to applying for outside fellowships and conferences, students in the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship also have the opportunity to intern with Hillsdale’s Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C.
The Kirby Center serves as Hillsdale’s home base in the District and is the location of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, which offers a master’s degree in government for working professionals in Washington. M.A. interns at the Kirby Center both serve as research assistants for the professors at the School of Government and have the opportunity to see politics unfold firsthand.
“With its location in the heart of D.C., the Kirby Center is ideally situated to bring the Hillsdale vision of restoring the Founders’ Republic to the heart of American politics,” Charles Stalzer, ’24, M.A., said. “Working as a research assistant for the Kirby Center allowed me to gain experience andand contribute to the Hillsdale community in an immediate way.”
Carolyn Dailey, ’24, M.A., who also interned for the program, agreed. “I had the privilege to work with and learn from some truly brilliant professors, and I made some wonderful friends. My summer at the Kirby Center in Washington, D.C., was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Internships and fellowships provide opportunities for School of Statesmanship students to gain professional experience and network with thoughtful people who are making a difference, said School of Statesmanship alumnus and Director of Programs Bruce Wykes, ’14, M.A. But Wykes also said the enriching aspect of fellowships and internships goes beyond the resume.
“During summer internships and fellowships, the political principles students learn in the program become practical,” he said. “Students have the opportunity to engage in statesmanship by taking the principles they learn in the classroom and pragmatically applying them in everyday situations to make a difference.”
Maddie Christensen, M.A., ’24, has her undergraduate degree in journalism from Brigham Young University and is thrilled to be studying in Hillsdale’s Graduate School of Statesmanship. After graduating, she plans to pursue law school. A native of Southern Utah, Maddie enjoys running and rock climbing with her handsome husband.
Published in December 2023