Internship Program

Radford University’s Government Relations office will be hosting a Government Relations Internship Program in which selected interns work closely with Southwest Virginia state legislators and their staff in Richmond, Virginia during the General Assembly session (January-March), and then return to campus and work in the University’s Government Relations office for the remainder of the semester (March-April). During the Government Relations Internship, students develop professional skills, strengthen political knowledge and gain a unique understanding of the Virginia General Assembly process.  Radford University’s Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives will serve as the internship coordinator and supervisor.

The Government Relations office will provide complimentary housing in Richmond, a stipend to offset internship expenses in Richmond, and students can earn up to 12 academic credits. Learn more about the Government Relations Internship Program and hear from a program participant about his experience in the program.

Internship Dates: January 12-April 30, 2026

• Students will be based in Richmond, Virginia during the Virginia General Assembly session (January 12-March 13, 2026)
• Students will be based on campus for an internship with Radford University’s Government Relations office (March 14-April 30, 2026)
• Students will have the opportunity to have a weeklong spring break in mid-March, but it will not align with the University’s official 2026 Spring Break schedule.

Additional Information

• Students work approximately 25-30 hours per week during the General Assembly session; and the number of hours students work per week during the second half of the semester while on campus depends on the number of internship hours that are required for satisfactory completion of the internship course.
• The University will provide complimentary housing in downtown Richmond for students to live in during the 2026 General Assembly session. However, students are responsible for securing housing for the remainder of the semester after they return from Richmond to Radford.
• Participants receive up to 12 hours of academic credit for the internship.
• Students are encouraged to talk with their faculty advisor to explore possible application of internship credit toward academic requirements to remain on track for graduation as needed; and are encouraged to enroll in one or more distance learning courses for the spring semester.

The internship will have two parts

1. While the 2026 General Assembly is in session from January-March, students will be based in Richmond and work approximately 25-30 hours per week. Specific internship duties and the work schedule will be negotiated with the legislative office hosting the intern, but responsibilities typically include legislative research, bill tracking, committee and floor monitoring, and communication tasks such as responding to constituent correspondence and assisting with social media.
2. After the 2026 General Assembly adjourns in mid-March, students will return to campus to participate in an internship with Radford University’s Government Relations office for the remainder of the semester. Students will assist the office with event planning, research and analysis projects, attend government meetings, draft materials and presentations, and professional development activities with alumni in government and other government officials.

Throughout the semester, students will be required to participate in professional development and experiential learning activities in Richmond and in Radford that align with the internship program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Government Relations Internship Program is open to all majors.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time as an undergraduate junior or senior with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above and in good standing.
• Interns must be able to reside in Richmond, Virginia Monday through Friday from January 12-March 13, 2026.

How to Apply

Students will need to apply via Handshake; and email the statement of interest and the recommendation letter by the application deadline. Applicants must complete the application in Handshake and separately email the statement of interest document to Lisa Ghidotti, Radford University’s Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives at lghidotti@radford.edu. Applicants must have at least one letter of recommendation from a Radford University faculty member to be considered for the Radford University Government Relations Internship Program; additional recommendation letters will be considered.

Government Relations Internship Program Application Checklist:

• Apply via Handshake
• Email a Statement of Interest to lghidotti@radford.edu (see below for additional information)
• Secure at least one letter of recommendation from a Radford University faculty member and have the faculty member email it to lghidotti@radford.edu

Statement of Interest

Please provide a statement of interest that addresses all three of the following topics. Please save your Statement of Interest as a PDF and email the PDF to Lisa Ghidotti at lghidotti@radford.edu before the application deadline; Statement of Interests should be no more than two pages!

• Topic 1: Describe your interest in participating in Radford University’s Government Relations Internship Program and what you hope to gain from the internship and how it aligns with your academic program and future career plans.
• Topic 2: Provide an overview of a public policy issue of interest (e.g., sustainability of the environment, technology, health care, education, etc.) and why it is important to you.
• Topic 3: You may be placed in a legislative office and interning for a General Assembly member whose political views may differ from your own. How comfortable are you working with someone from a different political party or who has different viewpoints and what steps will you take to ensure your success in that environment?

Letter of Recommendation from a Radford University Faculty Member

Applications must include at least one letter of recommendation from a Radford University faculty or staff member who can speak about your academic achievements, work ethic, and why you are a strong candidate for the Government Relations Internship Program. Individuals providing a letter of recommendation will need to email it directly to Lisa Ghidotti at lghidotti@radford.edu before the application deadline.

The application deadline is October 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. Only those candidates with complete applications (including the statement of interest and recommendation letter) will be considered.

Selection Process and Timeline

• The application deadline is October 1, 2025.
• Applications will be reviewed by the Government Relations Internship Selection Committee and students will be invited to interview with committee members in October. Participants will be selected and notified by the end of October.
• Students will be assigned to a legislative office, and orientation sessions will be held on campus or virtually in November and December.