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UT Announces Summer 2023 Congressional Interns

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With plans to make their own impact on the world, nine University of Tennessee students will take on Washington D.C. after securing internships with the United States Congress through the Congressional Internship Program (CIP). The summer program runs anywhere from six to 10 weeks during which the students work closely with legislative staff on a variety of projects. 

The Congressional Internship Program, a partnership between the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration and the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, gives students from all majors with an interest in government, public policy, and Capitol Hill careers the opportunity to see the inner workings of Congress.  

The summer 2023 Congressional Internship Program interns and the offices where they are working are:  

  • Benjamin Bridges, majoring in biological sciences, interning for Senator Blackburn 
  • Brady Cusick, majoring in political science, interning for Representative Fleischmann 
  • Jude Ellison, majoring in economics, interning for Representative Burchett 
  • Jay Frazier, majoring in political science, interning for Representative Burchett 
  • Rebecca Giles, majoring in history, interning for Senator Hagerty 
  • Keristen Layrock, majoring in political science, interning for Representative Cohen 
  • Lucy Marret, majoring in political science, interning for Senator Hagerty 
  • James Mccord, majoring in economics, interning for Representative Burchett 
  • Abby Zehnpfenig, majoring in political science, interning for Representative DesJarlais

Bridges, while interning for Senator Marsha Blackburn, researched legislation on healthcare topics such as Medicare and biopharmaceuticals and attended several Senate committee hearings and Intern Lecture Series (ILS) during which he learned more about healthcare in America, the possible improvement of connections to care for victims of substance abuse, and artificial intelligence and human rights.  

“By attending the Senate committee hearings and ILS, I had the chance to meet many people who were very supportive in learning about my future aspirations and eager to impact positive change in our country,” Bridges said. “All-in-all, I could not think of a better, more insightful way to have spent the first half of my summer and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent the University of Tennessee in Washington D.C. and have worked in the United States Senate.”