JMC Connect is a twice-weekly newsletter sent to all Madison students, faculty and staff:

• Our Monday newsletter provides an overview of upcoming events, opportunities and resources of interest to JMC students

• Our Friday newsletter shares upcoming job and internship opportunities

Have questions or submissions? Contact Jane Deacon ([email protected]).

In This Issue

• Students completing MC 400 this fall: apply for JMC’s Field Experience Scholarships by Sept. 5

• Career-related events

• Internships, job and volunteer opportunities

• Internships Spotlight: Mahdiyat Neehat shares her experience interning with Amazon

Inclusion of any internship opportunity listed here does not constitute MSU’s/JMC's endorsement or support of any candidate, party or ballot measure. 

Field Experience Scholarships

Scholarship applications are now open to JMC students enrolled in MC 400 and completing internships in the Fall 2026 Semester. Learn more and submit your application by Sept. 5 via Qualtrics.

Students completing public policy-related internships are also invited to apply to the Gordon and Norma Guyer Public Policy Scholarship by Sept. 8. View application details on our Funding Your Internship webpage.

Contact Lauren Michalak ([email protected]) with questions.

Career & Grad School Events

Did you know that JMC offers a LinkedIn badge for participating in career-related event programming at the college? Learn more in the YouTube video below and on JMC’s website:

Online Workshop: How to Apply to the OAS Internship Program 
Sept. 4, 11 a.m. held virtually. This online workshop is designed to help participants prepare a strong application for the Organization of American States (OAS) Internship Program. It will provide practical guidance on applying for internships, writing effective cover letters and resumes and identifying OAS career opportunities, including internships, consultancies and staff positions. Register to receive the workshop link via Microsoft Form.

Careers in Law Drop-In Discussion
Sept. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in S329 Case Hall. Students are invited to drop by for an informal conversation with JMC alum Vishnu Kannan (IR, PTCD '20), a Stanford Law School graduate and attorney at Covington & Burling. Jimmy John's lunch provided. Learn more and register to attend via Handshake.
This event is eligible for the JMC Career Readiness LinkedIn badge program. 

National & International Scholarships + Fellowships
Sept. 9, 4 p.m. in S329 Case Hall. Learn about funding and study abroad opportunities and how to find programs that fit your goals, understand what makes a strong candidate and begin preparing a competitive application. JMC alum Vishnu Kannan (IR, PTCD '20) will share his experience applying for and completing the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows program. Learn more and register to attend via Handshake.
This event is eligible for the JMC Career Readiness LinkedIn badge program. 

Daniel Rosenthal Legislative Intern Workshop & Luncheon
Sept. 10, 11:30 a.m. in the Anderson House Office Building. Students interning in a legislative office (House or Senate) are invited to learn best internship practices and future career opportunities for those with legislative experience. Learn more on JMC’s website and RSVP online.

Smithsonian Internships Info Session 
Sept. 10, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. held virtually. Interested in internship and fellowship opportunities with the Smithsonian Institution? Join this session to learn more about year-round opportunities available across Smithsonian units, research centers and museums. This event is open to all majors, school years and recent alumni. Learn more and register via Zoom.

Unpacking Your Experience Abroad 
Sept. 16, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in S329 Case Hall. Turn your study abroad experience into a story employers want to hear. This workshop will help you highlight your international experience beyond your resume and strengthen how you communicate it to employers. Learn more and register to attend via Handshake.
This event is eligible for the JMC Career Readiness LinkedIn badge program. 

People’s Law School 
Sept. 21 through Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. held at the Henry Center, Lansing. Interested in learning more about practical legal topics? People’s Law School is a seven-session program taught by judges and experienced attorneys, offering an engaging, classroom-style setting for questions and discussion. The program costs $25, which includes all seven sessions, materials, food and beverages. Learn more and register via Sinas Dramis Law Firm.

Grad and Professional School: Preparing, Exploring, and Applying 
Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. held virtually. Thinking about graduate school or law school? MSU’s Career Services Network will help you understand the process from exploring your options to preparing and applying. Learn more and register to attend via Handshake.
This event is eligible for the JMC Career Readiness LinkedIn badge program. 

Meet the New GoGovernment: California 
Sept. 24, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. held virtually. Interested in internship and career opportunities in California state government? Join this webinar to learn about the new GoGovernment California microsite, tailored for students and recent graduates. Learn more and register to attend via the TFA Registration Form.

Internship & Job Opportunities

Michigan Association of Conservation Districts Volunteer Opportunity
The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) is seeking student volunteers to assist with the 2026 MACD Annual Conference in Lansing (Oct. 20-22, 2026). Students will gain hands-on experience in event coordination, communications, conservation outreach, nonprofit operations and professional networking. Learn more and apply by Sept. 9.

MSU Center for Survivors SACI Volunteer Training 
The MSU Center for Survivors is accepting applications for its Fall 2026 Survivor Advocacy & Crisis Intervention (SACI) Volunteer training class. SACI volunteers gain knowledge about sexual and relationship violence, develop crisis-intervention skills, and provide essential support and advocacy to the MSU campus and greater Lansing community. The 40-hour hybrid training includes online self study and four in-person sessions. Volunteers set their own schedules and are asked to complete two on-call shifts per month. Learn more and apply by Sept. 13 via MSU Center for Survivors.

TurnUp Civic and Activism Remote Internship
Join a team of young people from all around the United States to help amplify youth civic engagement and participate in activism on many issues that you care about like climate change, criminal justice, reproductive rights, ending gun violence and combating voter suppression in the United States. Work on teams to participate in grassroots activism, advocacy on civic and issues. Learn more and apply via TurnUp.

Political Field Organizer Opportunities 
The Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters is hiring political field organizers to conduct voter outreach on targeted races throughout the state of Michigan. The position pays $30/hour, with flexible hours and schedules based on organizers' availability. Canvassing will take place four times per week from now through the November election. To be considered, please send your resume to [email protected]. 

Spartans Mentorship Opportunity

DC Spartans Mentorship Program 
The DC Spartans Alumni Group is offering a mentorship program connecting current MSU students and alumni with Spartan professionals in Washington, D.C. Participants can gain career advice, resume support, network-building opportunities, education guidance and more while connecting with fellow Spartan professionals. Learn more via PDF and apply to get involved via Google Forms.

Internships Spotlight: Mahdiyat Neehat

Mahdiyat Neehat is a JMC senior majoring in International Relations and Criminal Justice. Below she shares her experience interning with Amazon this summer.

Internship with Amazon in Shreveport, LA
Majors: International Relations and Criminal Justice 
Minor: Law, Justice & Public Policy 
Expected Graduation Year: 2027

What were some of your regular responsibilities during your internship? Working on a high security project, talking to stakeholders about theft reduction, monitoring cameras and different systems to protect assets.

What kind of public affairs issues or problems did your internship focus on? Protecting company assets, reducing inventory "shrink" (loss), and mitigating physical security and safety risks. Policy and Procedure Compliance and protecting public property from misplacement and theft were the public affairs issues the internship focused on. 

Which JMC skills showed up most clearly in your internship? Research skills, forming arguments and using public policy and theoretical analysis to solve problems were pivotal for the internship which I learned from JMC.

JMC course, assignment, professor or discussion that helped prepare you? The International Security course with Prof. Kristin Brathwaite helped a lot. On the other hand my Senior Seminar with Prof. Komori gave me a lot of confidence and taught me to articulate my thoughts. 

How did the experience shape how you're thinking about your future career path? I am really interested in corporate security and being an intelligence analyst and this experience created a pathway for me to pursue that.

Learn more about JMC’s field experience requirement on the JMC website. Students interested in planning their internship can connect with JMC Field Experience Coordinator Lauren Michalak (schedule an appointment with her via student.msu.edu).

Have a suggestion or submission for this newsletter? Contact Jane Deacon ([email protected]).