A New Generation of Changemakers: UMass in DC

UMass Amherst students are connected to a community of 278,000 alumni around the world. Engaged, dedicated, and passionate about UMass, alumni form a supportive and invaluable network that students can access both during their time on campus and beyond graduation. Many programs and our Connect UMass platform provide opportunities for students to connect with alumni in their prospective career fields for conversations, networking, and guidance.

The strength of this network is perhaps no more apparent than through a unique and exciting internship program that allows students to connect with UMass alumni based in Washington, DC. Run by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), the SBS in DC program has proven to be a stepping stone for students interested in careers in policy, government, nonprofits, international development, strategy, marketing, and more.

Real-World Experience in the Nation’s Capital

Open to UMass Amherst students with majors in SBS—anything from anthropology to sociology, journalism to political science, and much more in between—SBS in DC participants are matched with host internship sites and participate in a hybrid online/in-person class.

“SBS in DC connects students not only to their internship sites but also to the SBS alumni network in DC. These connections are key to finding opportunities in government, nonprofits, and for-profits that work closely with government,” explains R. Karl Rethemeyer, dean of SBS. UMass alumni mentor students all over the capital city, at internship sites like the State Department, the US Senate, NGOs, think tanks, private companies, and policy organizations. Important work is being done at these sites. Students can see firsthand—and be a part of—the decisions that effect change in the lives of individuals in our country and around the world.

This unique work experience can give students a leg up when searching for a new job. SBS in DC provides an environment where they experience working in professional settings, helping them learn about expectations, etiquette, and communication within an office setting.

An Accessible and Affordable Semester in DC

Over 50 percent of SBS students are eligible for the SBS RISE program, meaning that they come from BIPOC, first-gen, and/or resource-restricted backgrounds. When it comes to internships, these students are often left behind for a variety of reasons. SBS in DC strives to break down the barriers that prevent students from accessing experiential programs that are so beneficial to post-graduation success.

“Since inception, a central goal for this program is to make a DC experience accessible to every student,” affirms Rethemeyer. A semester in DC doesn’t cost participants more than a semester on the UMass Amherst campus. Because SBS in DC is donor-supported, any eligible student who is accepted to the program has access to special scholarships to help support their time in the capital city.

Rebecca Bell, who oversees the program as associate director of career and professional development for SBS, points out that “the majority of students who take part in SBS in DC never would have dreamt that an internship in DC was accessible to them.” She explains that many participants had never been out of the New England area before enrolling in the program.

Like-Minded Peers Provide Support and Community

“Our SBS in DC program is built on a cohort model,” Rethemeyer points out. “Students spend eight weeks together in a ‘pre-DC’ class where they learn key professional skills that will help them navigate DC. At the same time, they are building relationships that will carry through their DC experience and beyond,” he says. “Each student has a built-in support network before they get to the District.” Students live with their cohort in apartment-style housing, a model that offers motivation and social opportunities as well as the chance to learn from the different experiences gleaned across diverse internships.

Changing Lives One Internship at a Time

“The SBS in DC program changes lives,” says Bell. “When we designed the program, we wanted to remove all obstacles that students face when they think about going to DC because it can be daunting financially, logistically, and professionally. By taking those barriers off the table, we have been able to provide access to internships (which have led to careers) in DC for students who never would have dared to dream it.” 

Today, at least one-third of students who completed the program have secured positions in Washington, DC post-graduation. Through SBS in DC, a “new generation of changemakers,” as Bell puts it, are bringing their UMass Amherst education and experiences to the real world where they can truly make a difference.