C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

PANETTA

CONGRESSIONAL

INTERNSHIP

PROGRAM

NICOLE RODRIGUEZ, INTERIM ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF

STUDENT SUCCESS

BRENDA MENDEZ, INTERIM ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

CAREER CENTER

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

Overview of Program & History

• Founded in 1997 by Leon and Sylvia

Panetta, the Panetta Institute serves the

entire California State University system

plus several other schools

• The Panetta Institute provides a variety of

opportunities in government, politics and

public policy

• This is an unpaid opportunity, but housing,

meals, and transportation are all covered

by the Panetta Institute

• Students earn up to 20 units towards their

degree

Panetta Congressional Internship Program

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

2019 DH Panetta Internship Selection Committee

The Committee includes both faculty and staff:

• Nicole Rodriguez, Student Success (Co-Chair)

• Lisa Mastramico, Communications

• Brenda Mendez, Career Center (Co-Chair)

• Bianca Murillo, History

• Marie Palladini, Public Administration

• Hamoud Salhi, College of Extended & International Education/Political Science

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

Timeline

• Late January: Each CSU campus receives a formal invitation to participate and select their campus

representative; directly sent to the President’s office

• January-Mid February: The Panetta Internship selection committee, along with campus partners and faculty,

actively market opportunity. Interested students are directed to apply directly to the Career Center, where

applications are collected.

• Mid February: The Panetta Congressional Internship Committee, deliberate and select 6-8 candidates to

interview. Those candidates are interviewed and 3 are selected to be interviewed by the committee appointed

by the President

• Late February: Selected 3 candidates interview with President’s appointed committee and then select one

student to move on to an interview with the President

• End of February/Early March: The President sends the name of the selected candidate to the Panetta

Institute

• Mid March: Selected candidate is flown to the Panetta Institute in Monterey Bay to interview with Mrs. Sylvia

Panetta

• Early August: Selected candidate attends 2 weeks of intense training at the Panetta Institute. Directly after

training, the student is flown to Washington, D.C. and their internship begins

• Early November: Student returns to California

Program Logistics

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

Program Logistics

Application Requirements

• The Panetta Congressional Internships is open to all majors

• Applicants must be a junior or senior the fall they will be participating in the internship

• Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA

• Applicants must also be a U.S. Citizen and resident of California

• Applicant must not have more than 120 units

Application Process

• Students must fill out a one page application with contact information and 2 references (one

academic and one professional)

• Submit a graded paper

• Write a short 2 page essay explaining why they want to participate in the Panetta Internship Program

• Resume

• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

2019 Recruitment Efforts & MarketingFall 2018-Spring 2019

• September: Hosted a panel that included past Panetta Intern (Jessica Zaragoza),

panel also included McNair, Sally Casanova, Mellon Mays, and Fulbright

representatives to share about each program and the opportunities offered.

• November: Hosted an information session for the Panetta Congressional Internship

during Internship Week

• December: Brenda met with interested applicants to start preparing for the application

window; sent a reminder email to targeted students over the holiday break to begin

preparing for application window (via email and also through the committee

representatives)

• January: Sent out reminder email to committee representatives and students

regarding the upcoming application launch

• February: Scheduled information session for the Panetta Congressional Internship

during spring Internship Week

C AL I F O R N I A S TATE U N I V E R S I TY , D O M I N G U E Z H I L L S

Past Panetta Intern

Cambria Rodriguez, Class of 2017-History