UWG Students Gain Hands-On Legislative Experience Through Georgia Legislative Internship Program Share this page
This semester, four University of West Georgia students traded classrooms for the Georgia State Capitol, gaining real-world experience through the Georgia Legislative Intern Program (GLIP) and related legislative placements. From tracking bills on the Senate floor to engaging with constituents daily, these Wolves put their education into action.
Gwyn Andrews | Junior | Political Science, Mass Communications minor
“Concepts that once existed only in textbooks – committee procedure, caucus strategy, bill negotiation and constituent representation – became tangible parts of my daily work.”
Gwyn Andrews arrived at the Capitol at 6 a.m. each morning as a senate aide for Senator Randy Robertson, the majority whip. Her role included constituent services, policy research, briefing preparation and sitting in on leadership meetings and committee hearings – exposure she observed as invaluable.
Andrews said the internship strengthened her confidence and sharpened her approach to her work.
“I learned that if I don’t seek clarification or ask follow-up questions when needed, I cannot complete assignments efficiently or accurately,” she informed.
One memorable moment came when her father had the opportunity to serve as Chaplain of the Day during the Senate floor session. Looking ahead, the experience fueled a deeper sense of purpose.
“Being directly involved strengthened my interest in public service and motivated me to pursue a deeper role in politics – whether through working on campaigns or potentially running for office in the future,” she explained.
Mary Collins | Senior | English
“The material really came alive while at the Capitol. Learning about legislation, voting and representation in a textbook does not compare to seeing it firsthand.”
As a GLIP intern, Mary Collins started each day welcoming visitors, taking phone calls and managing paperwork – but not every day looked exactly alike.
“My favorite part of the job was meeting new people just before they spoke to the representatives,” she said, adding that working at the front desk has taught her the importance of networking. “I’ve learned how to network better and how to better communicate both in person and digitally.”
Collins highly valued the internship for sharpening her networking and communication skills.
“This experience made me more confident in my skills and enabled me to be more successful by teaching me and allowing me to meet like-minded individuals,” she shared.
Carli Daniel | Junior | Sociology, Criminology minor
“Being in GLIP was more than just an internship. It allowed to put to work so many topics I learned in school.”
Carli Daniel worked as a senate aide for Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, who chairs the Children and Families Committee and holds a leadership role within the majority caucus. Daniel’s days were full – from setting up caucus meals to preparing committee meetings, tracking legislation, and answering constituent calls and emails. As a sociology student, Daniel found the Capitol to be the ideal setting for real-world observation.
“The Georgia Capitol is a great place to have real-world interactions that allowed me to develop these theories deeper,” she said.
Some of her meaningful moments came from simple conversations with the legislators themselves.
“It is a nice reminder that they are just people with dreams,” she said. “I was given great advice and laughter through these conversations. I now realize just how many amazing opportunities are out there.”
Kennedy Ragin | Junior | Political Science and Mass Communications double major
“This internship allowed me to be a part of almost every step of the legislative process – from getting signatures on a bill to watching it pass through both the Senate and the House.”
Kennedy Ragin split her time between two offices: the Office of Policy and Legislative Analysis on Mondays and Tuesdays, where she summarized bills and drafts committee meeting minutes, and the offices of Senator Mike Hodges and Senator Drew Echols for the remainder of the week, where she handled administrative tasks including constituent correspondence, calendar management and legislation tracking.
Her pre-law coursework also came into focus through the role.
“Many times, I received calls from constituents regarding federal issues, and I was able to direct them to someone who can help them,” she noted.
A standout moment came on Crossover Day, when Senator John Albers paused amid the chamber’s activity to ask Ragin about her double majors and future plans.
“He told me that I would go far just from the brief conversation we had,” she recalled. “This was meaningful to me, because I was in the heart of the legislative process, and that senator took the time to get to know me and give me some words of encouragement.”
The experience expanded her sense of what is possible.
“This internship opened my eyes to many different career opportunities and empowered me to reach for the stars when it comes to choosing a career,” she concluded.