On Friday, Oct. 18, Hamilton students, faculty, and alumni celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hamilton’s off-campus study program in Washington, D.C. with a day of events that recognized the program’s success and significance over the past five decades.
One of the day’s major events was a reception that served as an opportunity for current and past program participants — along with other Hamilton alumni — to meet, network, and share their experiences. Government professors Sharon Rivera, Gbemende Johnson, and Alan Cafruny also attended the weekend’s events.
The following day, Saturday, Oct. 19, a series of panels highlighted different aspects of the program. There, Professor Philip Klinkner, James S. Sherman Professor of Government and the current director of the Hamilton Program in Washington, provided some historical context for the milestone.
When the Program started in 1969, he said, “Richard Nixon was president, the Vietnam War was still going on, the Soviet Union still existed, and the Internet did not exist. In that time, hundreds of Hamilton students have participated in the program and it has helped them launch successful careers in politics, law, consulting, advocacy, and many others.” He added that the Program offers students an invaluable experience with relevance to many different career goals and paths.
As participants in the semester-long program, 16 Hamilton students live and work in the nation’s capital, interning with the government, think tanks, NGOs, non-profits, and lobbying and consulting firms. To supplement their internships they complete an independent project, take two classes with a Hamilton professor, participate in extracurricular outings, and interact with alumni.
Philip Gow ’21 is a program participant this semester and currently interns with the office of Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. He works on legislative projects and assists with constituent correspondence.
“Through the internship, I can see the direct results of my efforts, and am constantly reminded that our work is helping Pennsylvanians on a daily basis,” Gow said. “My internship provides great opportunities to see first-hand how government functions and it is a lot more cooperative in nature than many would think. The evening receptions around the city are awesome as well, as they provide unparalleled networking opportunities.”
Gianni Hill ’21, another program participant, is the research and insights intern at Glover Park Group, a consulting firm that focuses on strategic communications and government affairs. In this role, his tasks include sifting through national public opinion polls and drafting a weekly polling summary that is sent out to the entire firm and several clients. He says he keeps everyone briefed on the opinions of the public while staying informed on current events.
“My favorite part of the program is that we spend time each week when we are together for class just going around and talking about what we’ve been working on for the past week at our internships,” Hill said. “I find it helpful to reflect on my own experience, and I also enjoy hearing about what other students in the program are doing.”
Gow and Hill both attended the anniversary celebrations. After the reception on Friday, Gow said, “[The event] was terrific, as we had the pleasure of meeting Hamilton alums from throughout the decades. To hear how they went from College Hill to Capitol Hill was meaningful in helping me chart a path towards a sustainable career in DC.”
Hill reiterated the value of networking with alumni at the reception and learning from their panel discussions. In the first panel, faculty members reflected on how the city of Washington, D.C., and the Program have changed since the early 1970s. The next three panels focused on careers in DC: public service, consulting, and media/communications. The final panel included students from the fall semester program like Hill who discussed their experiences.
“I found the panels to be one of the most interesting parts of the weekend,” said Hill. “We got to hear from alumni who now have careers in journalism, lobbying, the public sector, among others. I can’t say enough about the kindness of Hamilton alumni and their willingness to talk with current students.”
While studying in D.C., daily life differs drastically from students’ everyday schedules on the Hill. Gow described how after work, he likes to frequent various events in the city that catch his attention.
“We have a ‘DC events’ group chat where I and other Hamilton students figure out where the best events are,” he said. “If you are a Hamilton student coming to this program, find an event to go to almost every work day. If you split your time between only work and staying in the apartment, you will probably regret it. These events often mitigate your dinner costs if that helps get you out the door.”
Hill agreed, saying, “I like having more of a fixed schedule each day; I go to work from 9 AM to 6 PM, then I come home to eat then workout then read for class. Aside from our internships and socializing, there are not tons of extracurriculars to get involved with like on-campus, so I find myself having more free time to just relax and to also explore the city at my leisure.”
Gow and Hill both recommend interested Hamilton students consider the Program for off-campus study.
“I’ve been building a strong network here in DC, and I’ve made some great friends on the program,” Hill said. “I hope to stay in touch with all of the incredible people I’ve worked with and have met down here. There are so many generous alumni in the DC area that are willing to meet with you and talk about your career path.”
Reflecting on his experience as a whole, Gow added, “This program has afforded me the opportunity to see if a career in this city is both fun and feasible, and from where I stand now, the answer to both of these questions is yes.”
