Eleven University of Florida students have been named as legislative interns for the 2023 session of the Florida State Legislature.
The selected students are Erina Anwar; Zoe Golomb; Katherine Gray; Chelsea Hernandez; Charles Horowitz; Saika Janvier; Javier Kowalchuk; Dylan Pace; Sebastian Palomino; Maria Varas; and Elizabeth Wolcott.
Each spring, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service works with the UF Office of Government and Community Relations to place UF students with representatives. All academic majors are encouraged to apply for one of the positions; housing and a scholarship are provided to help with cost-of-living expenses.
A brief background on each of the students in the cohort is below.
Erina Anwar is a junior journalism major and communications assistant for the Bob Graham Center. She hopes to use her strong writing and communications skills to bridge the gap between the members of the legislature and their constituents.
“During the last legislative session, several bills were passed that changed Floridians’ lives. These impactful pieces of legislation urged me to seek out ways I can become more involved and knowledgeable about the legislative process,” she says.
“The Tallahassee internship program is the perfect opportunity to receive hands-on experience in this field. Working directly under members during the legislative session will allow me to see the logic and reasoning behind passing legislation firsthand.”
She has been placed in the office of Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson.
Zoe Golomb is a third-year history and international studies double major pursuing a minor in European Union studies. She is in the UF Honors Program and enjoys getting involved with her community through her leadership roles as co-editor-in-chief of PRISM Student Magazine.
She is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience working with public policy in her placement within the UF Government and Community Relations office in Tallahassee.
“An internship allows me to work at the forefront of the intersection between my two main passions: education and policy. As a student double majoring in history and international studies with a minor in European Union studies, I enjoy exploring the past to better understand the current issues and political trends of today,” she says.
“I have a particular interest in expanding access to education and representing student interests. I am dedicated to making an understanding of today’s political climate more easily accessible to the public by expanding equitable access to education.”
Katherine Gray is a junior biology major with a minor in agriculture and natural resource ethics and policy. She has experience as a science communicator for the UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, and as a Florida Cicerone, the official student ambassadors for UF. She has conducted molecular biology and genetics research in the Koch Lab within the UF/IFAS horticultural sciences department.
She plans to use her background in STEM and her interpersonal skills to bridge the gap she perceives between scientists and decisionmakers creating policy about science-based issues.
“Within the agricultural field, I have had the opportunity to see and understand firsthand the tremendous potential in GMOs, artificial intelligence, and natural resource conservation efforts. I have seen how public policy affects these areas, for better and for worse.
“I have also seen how a gap exists between the scientists within the agricultural and natural resource research field and those who are creating and enacting the policy surrounding that field.”
She has been placed in the office of Sen. Travis Hutson.
Chelsea Hernandezis a second-year international studies and political science major on the pre-law academic track. She has interned for Florida Community Innovation and UF’s Student Legal Services while being an active campus leader in Student Government, Asian American Student Union, Preview, and alpha Kappa Delta Phi.
Through the Tallahassee internship, Chelsea hopes to broaden her understanding of legislative processes and how it interacts with the field of law, while becoming an impactful student leader who can bring these lessons back to her communities at UF.
“The bread and butter of my motivation to continue my journey as a pre-law student and completely delve into this professional sphere has been based on the development I see from being within professional environments such as the ones the Tallahassee internship would afford me,” she says.
“As a first-generation student, the idea of working with individuals I have always looked up to is not only awe-inspiring but is an opportunity I would not take for granted. Not only would I be fulfilling a childhood dream of mine, but I would be able to create the next steps of my undergraduate career based on this experience.”
She has been placed in the office of Sen. Lauren Book.
Charles Horowitz is a UF sophomore double majoring in political science and classical studies. He founded and manages a political website, Policy Reform Now, for which he has interviewed numerous current or former members of the Florida Legislature.
Charles anticipates his internship will expand on the knowledge gained in the classroom.
“As a political science major, I recognize only so much can be learned in the classroom. A great part of learning is also achieved through listening. I would be able to listen and watch history in the making during what will surely be an eventful period, growing my expertise,” he says.
He also has aspirations to eventually run for political office, and sees the internship as opportunity to learn valuable campaign skills. “As a future candidate, I realize it is important to first understand what issues affect citizens, and what is being done to address these issues. By furthering my understanding of this process, I shall do my assigned duties as an intern from a more informed perspective. This would also allow me to perform at a higher caliber into the future when I run for office.”
He has been placed in the office of Rep. Robin Bartleman.
Saika Janvier is a senior economics major and transfer to UF from Palm Beach State College, where she was a recipient of the Stewart Honors Scholarship and Presidential Honors Scholarship. She is active in UF campus activities, serving as treasurer for Black Women Leaders in Law, assistant secretary for the Black Student Union, and a peer leader for for Pledging to Advance Academic Capacity Together.
Saika has a strong interest in education policy, economic development, and the legal field. Through this internship, she hopes to grow both professionally and personally as she pursues a degree in law to become a practicing attorney focused on policymaking.
“The Tallahassee Internship program is an exceptional opportunity that will allow me to gain hands-on experience in Florida’s legislature and develop analytical and interpersonal skills to advance in my career,” she says. “This includes enhancing my communication skills through engaging in conversation and learning to become a better leader while witnessing members of the Senate and House advocate for changes within Florida.”
“My primary purpose for applying is to continue my advocacy fighting for the voices that are not being heard, the barriers preventing them from speaking, and those who are not old enough to understand the impact of their future,” she adds.
She has been placed in the office of Rep. Fentrice Driskell.
Javier Kowalchuk is a bilingual junior political science major who plans to pursue a law degree after graduation and practice trial law. He has volunteered extensively with summer debate camps for high school students, the Miami-Dade County Teen Court Program, and the City of Homestead Mayor’s Youth Council. He has also participated in UF’s Phi Alpha Delta national annual mock trial competition.
“Ever since I can remember I have been passionate about politics, economics, and the functions of government,” he says. “My experiences have exposed me to the workings of government and the impact local policy has on our communities, particularly how government can work to bring people and communities together,” he says.
Through interning in the legislature, he anticipates learning more about how government functions at the state level. “I hope this internship can help fill in the gaps in my knowledge of how the state legislature mechanically and politically operates. I hope to learn how bipartisanship works when a legislature is controlled by one party, which is the case in over 20 states in our country.”
“In terms of my academic growth, working in the state legislature can give me a glimpse of whether or not I should get a JD or MBA. I’ve been counseled that both are good choices for policy consulting, but seeing policy making in action could help me determine if I should get either.”
He has been placed in the office of Rep. Fred Hawkins.
Dylan Pace is a sophomore majoring in agricultural education and communication. He currently serves as the secretary for the Bob Graham Center Student Fellows, and as a student assistant in the UF/IFAS Office of the Dean for Extension. After graduating from UF, Dylan plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public policy.
Dylan says he has always held a passion for public service, and will use this internship to learn more about the policymaking process and the issues most important to Floridians. “This internship would give me firsthand experience in an office where policies are crafted, and the will of the electorate is represented. Working with a legislator or an executive branch office would contribute to my development as not only a professional, but also as a citizen.”
“The internship would also be a great lesson on how to operate in a legislative and political setting. Experience is very important in all careers, and I will gain a considerable amount through this program. As an agricultural education and communication major, knowing your audience and communicating clearly is crucial. I will be taking many leadership and communication-related courses, and I believe that I will be well prepared when I go through them because of this internship.”
Dylan has been placed in the office of Rep. Chuck Clemons.
Sebastian Palomino is a bilingual sophomore public relations and political science double major. He has already earned an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Indian River State Community College. At UF, he is involved within the Hispanic Student Association and has served as director of transfer student affairs within the UF student government cabinet.
Sebastian expects his experiences in the internship will serve as a foundation for his future pursuits working in the field of public policy.
“This internship will help me determine if working in government is a good fit for not just myself but future positions I plan to apply for,” he says. “I believe that this internship will play a vital role in my career development and how I want to track myself for the next two years as I move on in my undergrad. Working as an intern will allow me to understand more about myself and where I would like to work, as well as the type of work.”
He also looks forward to learning more about the interplay between domestic and international governance. “Through this internship, I hope to gain experience in further learning more about public policies and international development, but also the connection between local and state governments in order to serve others. I also hope to gain first-hand knowledge of the operations of the Florida Legislature, which will serve as a foundation for my future pursuits in working with public policies and understanding community leadership in Washington, D.C.”
He has been placed in the office of Rep. Dana Trabulsy.
Maria Varas is a senior business administration major. She has written for the Florida Political Review, is a UF Pre-Legal Honor Society director, and plays violin with the UF Symphony Orchestra. She has interned with UF Student Legal Services and with Jolly Esquire PLLC in Miami. She hopes to pursue business law upon graduation.
She hopes the internship will continue developing her skills in research, communication, and public relations. ” I have previous experience writing articles and research papers; however, writing is an ongoing process and I can always improve myself,” she says.
She anticipates the internship will also begin building a professional network that she can draw upon as she considers applying to law school. “It will be my last semester at UF, so I will take full advantage of the opportunities that are given to me, whether in the form of professional networking meetings, socials, or internship assignments. I plan on spending some of my free time at the Florida Supreme Court to listen to a couple of oral arguments. No matter where I am placed, I will use this internship to pursue networking activities with law clerks, individuals who currently hold political office, lobbyists, and maybe even judges.”
She has been placed in the office of Sen. Tina Polsky.
Elizabeth Wolcott Ellie is a third-year economics and sustainability studies honors student at the University of Florida minoring in agriculture and natural resource ethics and policy. She pursued her academic and professional interests abroad last summer, learning about environmental policy and activism in several European countries. She now works for Kokomo Farms as a sustainable living and agrotourism intern. Ellie is also engaged in the University Economics Society and the UF chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences.
She has been placed in the office of Sen. Jennifer Bradley.