Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the elements of this complete, academic internship and immersion into the life and work and culture of the Nation’s Capital.

Welcome to the WAKE Washington DC Program

Since Wake Forest’s affiliation with The Washington Center in 2006, 123 Wake Forest students, including three post-graduates, have been selected to participate in semester-long or summer internships in their specific areas of academic interest or career exploration. The experience of living, learning, and interning in the Washington, DC area has been described by previous students as “life changing”, “challenging”, and “personally and professionally rewarding”.

Program Overview

In Their Words…

“I wanted to let you know how deeply in love with DC I am and how grateful I am to be here! The internship has been wonderful – I am working alongside health care executives, attending hearings (e.g., last week with Secretary Sebelius and the Senate Finance Committee), and meeting members of Congress daily. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity…” Stephanie Papes – Legislative Intern, Strategic Health Care

“At my internship at the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine), I was challenged by my supervisor to take a very hands-on role in planning events, presentations, and research projects. I appreciated being able to gain feedback on my performance but also having the independence to accomplish tasks in the best way I saw fit. The work experience, new friendships, and excursions around Washington, DC made my summer an unforgettable one.” - Katherine Powell (Danville, CA, history major; minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies)

“Through my WAKE Washington experience, I’ve had the privilege of exploring the intricate dynamics of US relations with emerging powers in the post-Cold War era. My internship at the Woodrow Wilson Center Brazil Institute has exposed me to the inner workings of the research and policy-making communities, and my academic course on US-China relations in the 20th and 21st centuries with a former US Foreign Service Official has broadened my understanding of current international relations. As a Political Science and Spanish double major, this summer in the nation’s fascinating capital and portal to the rest of world has been a time of personal, professional, and academic growth.” - Carey Carpenter (Charlotte, NC; Reynolds Scholar)