Alumni Experiences – CGA Internship Portal

Prior Intern Testimonials

Ms. Morgan Bloom

Email: morganbloom14@gmail.com

Undergraduate Institution: Quinnipiac University

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science

CGA Internship Caucus: House Democrats

What did you do after the CGA?: Continuing education at QU pursuing a Master’s in Public Relations

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Observing legislators speak on chamber floors and communicating with constituents

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Learned task optimization and time management that assist her with quick turnaround assingments

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “I would recommend taking advantage of how immersed in the political atmosphere you are. Talk to the people who are in jobs that interest you to learn more about them, explore new committees that you might not know about, and definitely have conversations with people on the other side of the bench!”

Mr. Alan Cavagnaro

Email: alancavy@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alancavagnaro/

Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut & Manchester Community College

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science & Urban and Community Studies

CGA Internship Caucus: House Democrats

What did you do after the CGA?: Worked Governor Ned Lamont’s re-election campaign and currently works as Deputy Director at DesegregateCT

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Working on housing policies

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Learned skills and gained tools to work within his policies interests and make unforgettable connections with legislators

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “Be proactive with this internship. Many people may just do the work assigned to them, but it is up to you to take what is in front of you. E.g., attend committee meetings or public hearings if you have a free hour or two. Also, sign up to testify for a bill you care about. This experience exists to empower you, for you to learn, and to challenge yourself, but only if you know how to, then will it be rewarding!”

Mr. Matthew Convard

Email: matthewjconvard@gmail.com

Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science

CGA Internship Caucus: House Republicans

What did you do after the CGA?: Began his Master’s in Public Policy at University of Miami

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Seeing the legislative process firsthand and getting to be a part of it

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Opened the scope of his career path outside of politics

What is one think you want to tell future interns?: “Doing this internship answered a lot of questions for me about my career interests. Now is the time to learn what you like and what you don’t like and go from there. Having a front row seat to the operations of local and state government can teach you a lot about the community you grew up and/ or learn in.”

Mr. Tyler Fisher

Email: tyler.fisher@uconn.edu

Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science

CGA Internship Caucus: Senate Democrats

What did you do after the CGA?: Graduating from UConn in May

What was your favorite part of the internship?: The rewarding practical experience, interacting with CGA staff, and mock session

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Still learning what is next

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “I would advise prospective interns to come into the program open-minded and be willing to engage with and in the important work that is taking place at the General Assembly, because you will definitely learn a lot!”

Ms. Lena Neri

Email: lenaneri2002@gmail.com

Undergraduate Institution: Central Connecticut State University & Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science with Legal Studies Concentration

CGA Internship Caucus: Senate Republicans

What did you do after the CGA?: Attending law school at University of New Hampshire

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Sitting in on caucus meetings

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Helped her determine her future studies

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “It is an incredible experience that and allows you to build a strong network.”

Ms. Mary Roberts

Email: suaveorca@gmail.com

Undergraduate Institution: Liberty University

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science

CGA Internship Caucus: House Republicans

What did you do after the CGA?: Began her Master’s in Public Administration at UConn

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Meeting new people in a variety of roles

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Helped her decide her career direction through professional development

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “Don’t be afraid to approach and introduce yourself to anyone you might be interested in talking with!”

Ms. Isabella Sardina

Email: isabellasardina2003@gmail.com

Undergraduate Institution: Sacred Heart University

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science & Global Studies

CGA Internship Caucus: House Democrats

What did you do after the CGA?: Worked for a superior court judge while finishing undergrad and currently attending law school

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Making lasting connections with the other interns and getting to see state government processes

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Helped her pick her intended career path and made good connections through networking

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “I would tell prospective interns to take advantage of the connections you make along the way and work tirelessly at the tasks given to you, this is an amazing opportunity so take advantage of this.”

Mr. Sam Weldon

Email: sam@sam-weldon.com

Undergraduate Institution: Housatonic Community College & Columbia University

Undergraduate Studies: History & Information Science

CGA Internship Caucus: House Democrats

What did you do after the CGA?: Finished his associated degree and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s at Columbia Univeristy

What was your favorite part of the internship?: Doing research that became a part of Connecticut legislation the following session

How did the CGA help with your future career?: Made networked connections that helped him get into Columbia

What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “Get as involved as possible!”

The Connecticut General Assembly Internship program was one that was incredibly valuable to me. Whether you plan pursuing a career in politics or not this internship is one that helps prepare you for the “real world”. You are forced to learn how to network and interact with professionals on a daily bases, really preparing you for any career you plan on choosing.

Ethan M IvesUniversity of Connecticut

My time as an intern at the Connecticut General Assembly has been transformative. Before this internship, I had little understanding of legislation, how sessions worked, or even the basics of the legislative processes. Initially, I struggled to see how my skills and passion for social media could be applied in this environment. However, being placed in the House Democratic Office was a turning point. I worked closely with legislators to plan and promote events that aligned with the positive messages they aimed to convey to their constituents. By utilizing platforms like TikTok and Instagram, I was able to merge my passion for social media with the goals of the internship, promoting it in a positive and engaging way. Alongside these experiences, I gained invaluable connections that will support my growth in public advocacy and strengthen my passion for law. The internship also offered educational opportunities, such as tracking bills I was interested in, networking with Connecticut agencies, and having my bill poster project featured at the Old State House. This journey has also allowed me to build lasting friendships with fellow students across the state who share my passions, making the experience even more rewarding.

Florence OjideUniversity of Connecticut

My experience was simply amazing. The internship program was more than stapling paper and stuffing envelopes. As an intern through the Legislative Internship Program I was immersed in many aspects of the legislative network. I was blessed to have been involved with in-district events, legislative research, and committee tasks. What I appreciate most was building lasting relationships with my fellow interns, office staff, legislators, and other members of both municipal and congressional offices. The internship program certainly is a great stepping stone for anyone interested in public service.

Ussawin Robin BumpenCentral Connecticut State University

I can’t understate how useful the legislative research aspect of the program has been in my work as an Alderman. Last week, all the Alders received a memo about a blighted rental property with major building concerns (i.e. 2×4 studs being used to support the whole building), but the tenant was refusing to leave so the owner could remediate the issue. The Chief of Staff expressed how she was at a loss on how to get the property fixed without the landlord having to go through a lengthy eviction process. Corporation Counsel was given the memo but hadn’t investigated it at the time, so using my own CGA Intern skills, I was able to pinpoint where in the CGS some answers could be and was able to identify a specific section that could prove useful and drafted an email explaining it to the Chief of Staff, which was well received!

Arthur NewbergUniversity of Connecticut

I really enjoyed my internship at the Connecticut General Assembly. I worked with Representative Patricia Billie Miller and responded directly to her constituents. I enjoyed knowing that someone was benefiting from my work. I was also able to make new friends with similar interests whom I would never have met otherwise without this program.

Julia TaoUniversity of Connecticut

My experience was a little different from other interns. Starting on the first day I had the opportunity to sit in on a one-on-one meeting between my legislator and a member of the public advocating for other people. I watched as my legislator broke down the problems that were being described and showed the advocate the difficulties involved in the solutions while still listening and caring about what the advocate said. This would continue throughout my internship experience, the legislator I worked for in the Spring of 2024 and their team worked tirelessly to make sure that they were hearing as many voices from the public as possible while also working within the boundaries of the state budget. Through this experience I have learned how to help the public interact with the legislature in a way that is respectful and considerate to everyone involved. By giving tours to high school students, I was able to listen to their needs and put them in contact with people who could help them. My time at the CGA drove me to become the President of the Political Science Club at CCSU, where I’m working to help first time voters get registered and become engaged in the political landscape that they are a part of.

Danielle LandesCentral Connecticut State University

The Connecticut General Assembly Internship really helped me appreciate the complexity of policy creation within the State of Connecticut. It helped me to learn a lot about the type of worker I am, and focus my attentions on the type of career I wish to pursue.

Shayne KoplowitzCentral Connecticut State University

The Connecticut General Assembly Legislative Internship Program played a key role in expanding my understanding of what public service career opportunities existed in state government. Prior to the program, I had no sense of direction of what I wanted to do after finishing up my degree. However, the constituent services and committee work I performed, the leadership qualities I developed in the program’s annual Mock Session, and the unique networking, mentoring, and programming opportunities I experienced all led me to join the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection as Executive Secretary to Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. Now, I am serving the state of Connecticut in a full-time capacity, transferring all that I learned from my internship experience to help support, empower, and protect Connecticut’s consumers and markets. I am enthusiastic to see where my career leads me in the coming years, and I have the CGA Legislative Internship Program to thank for all the opportunities, lessons, and privileges it bestowed upon me to lead me here. #CGA2024Alum

Kyle ThaxtonSouthern Connecticut State University

I have been workinI was an intern in the legislative internship program in the spring of 2023. I currently work full-time in the Connecticut General Assembly as a Legislative Aide to several representatives while also attending Quinnipiac law school at night. The internship program helped prepare me for the role that I am in by allowing me to experience different legislative work such as citation drafting, policy research, and constituent services, all of which are main components of my daily tasks while at work. The biggest takeaway I received from the internship was the networking opportunities that were available just by being a part of the program; that, along with hard work, is what I believe allowed me to be contacted for employment shortly after the internship ended. Ultimately, the internship program is a massive part of who I am and how I got here, which is why it is something that I will continue to give back to in any way I can. (July, 2024)

Shawn GokeySouthern Connecticut State University

Currently works as a Workforce Development Program Liaison for the City and County of Denver, Colorado and is considering returning to Connecticut in the future to be involved in Connecticut state politics.
“The CGA Internship program provided me with direct insight into the legislative process, and strengthened my passion for public service,” (Abbotts, 2024)

Elliot AbbottsUniversity of Bridgeport

Being an Intern for the Connecticut General assembly was one of the single greatest things that I have experienced in my life. Not only did I learn how my State Legislature functions, but thanks to the program I met people who not only share my interest in State governance and policy, but have also helped me grow both personally and professionally. I am far better off for having been a part of the Legislative Internship Program and I could not recommend it higher to anyone who has an interest in seeing the nuts and bolts of State Government from the inside.

Joshua QuintanaManchester Community College

Undergraduate Studies: Political Science & Psychology
CGA Internship Caucus: House Democrats
What did you do after the CGA?: Became a manager in operations at Amazon
What was your favorite part of the internship?: Working with representatives and researching bills
How did the CGA help with your future career?: Learned time management
What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “Know what you are trying to achieve while interning. Stay focus, network, and learn as much as you can.”
“[I] now manage teams that dispatch over 1 million packages per week for customers. Managed and supported 4 sites in different states and planning on managing more. Please know this opportunity is stepping stone for many opportunities to come.”

Miss Natoya GrahamCentral Connecticut State University

Email: sam.erickson@cga.ct.gov
Undergraduate Studies: Political Science
CGA Internship Caucus: Senate Democrats
What did you do after the CGA?: Managed a state senate campaign and then returned to the CGA
What was your favorite part of the internship?: Watching session and learning about Connecticut legislative process
What is one thing you want to tell future interns?: “The internship is what you make of it. Take full advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, and most importantly, make your own opportunities by exploring and networking. You never know where the connections you make will lead!”

Mr. Samuel EriksonCentral Connecticut State University

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