Ellie Wolthuis

In February, I had the honor of organizing Higher Education Day at Oklahoma's State Capitol, where I met with legislators to lobby for higher education funding. This experience sparked an interest in me for Oklahoma politics, specifically in education policy! After meeting with the representatives and senators, I called their offices to see if there were any internships in state-level politics for the summer. Through those phone calls, I got connected to the internship coordinator in the Governor’s Office and was offered an interview!‭

This internship provided me with so many opportunities through responsibilities. We toured several state agencies and organizations to learn about their importance in the state of Oklahoma, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Tourism, the Oklahoma History Center, and Joseph Harp Correctional Center. In the office, I researched several assignments for the communications team, including research on state pensions and state income tax. I also worked with the policy team in analyzing bills and attended Bill Review with the Governor. 

Before my first day, the Office of the Governor seemed very intimidating. On a daily basis I was working alongside the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of State, the Chief of Staff, and other high-level officials. After meeting everyone in the office, I instantly felt welcomed and like I belonged there. Everyone on staff was intentional with getting to know myself and the other interns, consistently making us feel like a part of the team. The largest obstacle I faced was self-confidence in my writing. When I first started assisting the Director of Communications, I had many doubts about my skills as a writer. She and her team constantly lifted me up and helped me improve both my writing and my confidence. 

Prior to starting my internship, I had my eyes set on foreign policy and international relations. I have always been fascinated by conflicts abroad and dreamed of one day helping to resolve them. While I still hope to assist in that realm some day, I found a new passion for state-level policy work. I now hope to pursue a career in education policy in Oklahoma!

I felt that the University of Oklahoma could not have better prepared me for my role in the Governor’s Office. I felt confident conducting research projects for the communications team because of the work I have been assigned in my various classes. I also felt that OU's Student Government Association (SGA) played an integral part preparing me for this office. Through SGA, I learned how to read, write, and analyze bills, a skill I relied heavily on throughout my internship. I also learned about different legislators, their policy beliefs, and their respective committees. That information proved to be valuable when attending meetings and walking the halls of the Capitol.