Student Selected for Internship in Senator Warren’s Springfield Office

May 27, 2016

Senator Elizabeth Warren selected GCC student Carys Lamberg, 20, of Amherst, for a summer internship in her Springfield, MA office. Lamberg is one of six interns chosen from a pool of over 50 applicants from colleges and universities across Massachusetts. She’ll work from June through August with Senator Warren's staff in Springfield, assisting the team with constituent-needed federal services, conducting research for the legislative staff, and supporting the administrative operations of the office. Lamberg’s training begins on June 6 when she will attend an orientation session in Boston to meet Warren's entire staff and her fellow summer interns from Springfield and Boston.  Lamberg expects to receive her Associate in Science, Social Sciences degree from GCC in December.

“Student interns play an important role helping our Senate office serve Massachusetts constituents, and this program is a great way for young people to learn about public service and the work of the United States Senate,” Senator Warren said. “I look forward to welcoming students from Greenfield Community College and from across the Commonwealth to our Springfield, Boston, and Washington offices this summer.”

Lamberg is thrilled to have the opportunity to intern for Senator Warren. She said, “I already admired and appreciated Senator Warren and know that working for her aligns with my political beliefs and values. I hope to take what I learn from this internship and apply it to understanding and promoting positive change within my local government and further understanding of myself and my goals. This internship opens up an enormous window to the inner workings of how Senators interact with their constituents and local and federal governments.”

Reflecting on her time at GCC, Lamberg said, “Not only has GCC taught me how to learn, but also how to unlock my potential, be the best student I can be, and become actively involved in achieving my dreams. It has instilled in me the desire to strive for the betterment of those around me. I’ve learned so much at GCC, and have loved my time getting to know my classmates and the world-class faculty. I am incredibly grateful to this wonderful community that wants their students to succeed. GCC has given me the tools and knowledge necessary to benefit from my internship and beyond.”

GCC Political Science professor Buz Eisenberg has taught Lamberg in his American Politics, American Civil Liberties, and International Politics courses. Lamberg is the first of his students to serve as an intern with a U.S. Representative or Senator. Commenting on Lamberg, Eisenberg said, “Carys is a committed and thoughtful learner, with a strong sense of justice and a big-picture view. I learned to trust and respect her commitment when we traveled to investigate a client's case for clemency. She’s a great choice for this internship because she takes full advantage of every learning opportunity, and has an insatiable desire to grow as a citizen and a person.”

Christine Copeland, GCC Internship Coordinator, said, “Carys is a role model for the work she has done during her time at GCC. We are extremely proud of her, and know she will be a wonderful representative of GCC in her internship. Working in Senator Warren’s office, Carys will get a valuable taste of how government works at the federal, state, and local levels. This experience will serve her well in whatever career she chooses.”

After GCC, Lamberg plans to transfer to a college or university to finish a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in sociology. In addition to being a full-time student, Lamberg works at GCC in the Social Science Studio and outside of the College in retail and as a housesitter, petsitter, and nanny. She has volunteered with Not Bread Alone soup kitchen and food pantry and as a docent at Amherst College’s Mead Art Museum.

Along with practica required in many GCC programs, GCC students complete internships in a wide range of fields while studying at GCC. Eisenberg’s students have interned in the Greenfield District Court, the Northampton District Court, Orange District Court, Franklin Superior Court, and Franklin County Bar Association.

To learn more about internships at GCC, visit https://www.gcc.mass.edu/internships/.

by Mary McClintock, '82

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