Chicago, Illinois Student Interns in Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON – Chicago, Illinois, native Cody Johnson spent this summer interning for U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office as an intern.
“I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois,” Durbin said. “I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a student from East St. Louis, Illinois, going to work in the office of a U.S. Senator was one of the most exciting things I had ever done. I know what a valuable experience it can be and we strive to make sure all of our students get a glimpse into the workings of the United States Senate.”
A resident of Chicago, Cody is a rising sophomore at Colgate University, majoring in peace and conflict studies and minoring in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. On campus, Cody is a member of the mock trial team and the equestrian team. Before this internship, Cody worked at Chicago Line Cruises, an architectural boat tour company on the Chicago River, managing the technological and communication systems, as well as customer relations. She has enjoyed the opportunity to gain exposure and experience by directly working on the Senator’s education legislative portfolio.
“I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to intern in Senator Durbin’s office,” Cody said. “Working for Senator Durbin’s education team, especially after the recent Supreme Court decisions, is an experience I will never forget. Walking past monuments, the Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court on my way to work every day was incredible. However, working with the Senator’s amazing staff was even better. I want to thank the Senator and his staff for their continuous support and mentorship throughout this summer.”
The intern responsibilities include assisting full-time staff in responding to constituent related topics, assisting with information inquiries, attending committee and agency hearings and briefings, researching legislative issues and policy questions, and observing floor proceedings. During that time, the students gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of the federal government, and develop valuable research skills.
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