Summer is a time for most students to slow down, take a vacation, or even enroll in a couple of summer classes. But UC Riverside Political Science Professor Ronald O. Loveridge believes the best way to spend the summer is gaining internship experience. That was exactly how I spent my 2019 summer  -  learning new skills, gaining professional development, and building my network as a UC Riverside Loveridge Fellow in Sacramento.

Established in 2015, Loveridge's Summer Fellowship Program awards rising seniors and recent graduates the opportunity to work as full-time interns in the state capital of Sacramento. For ten weeks, each candidate is placed in a major political office relating to government and policy-making. The program provides political science and public policy students the exposure to the inner-workings and functions of state politics. Each Fellow receives a stipend of $3,000 to cover the living expenses in Sacramento. 

As a first-generation student, I never thought I would come across a life-changing opportunity like this. Because of my interests in state politics and previous internship experience, Loveridge placed me in the Office of Assemblymember Jose Medina. He serves as Chair of the Higher Education Committee and represents California’s 61st Assembly District, which consists of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris, and Mead Valley.

My summer in Sacramento became a routine. Every day I would take the bus downtown, walk through the corridors of the capitol building, work in our legislative office, network with individuals through coffee meetings, and attend mixers after work with others in my cohort. It has been a remarkable experience connecting with alumni who were former Loveridge interns and fellows. 

As the Deputy Director of the Inland Center for Sustainable Development and a former mayor of Riverside, Loveridge is a highly regarded regional, state, and national leader. He is known for building a massive network of notable alumni and designed the fellowships to become an opportunity for UCR students to pave a career path into state government. 

“I wanted California’s leaders to understand how good UC Riverside students are,” said Loveridge. ”We have the fifth-largest economy in the world, containing over 40 million people and leading the country in many new policy initiatives. Sacramento is an exciting and important place to be, so I would like to send our best and brightest students to work in state politics.”

There have been over 40 recipients since 2015, with each one detailing how transformative the program has been for their professional endeavors. Here are a few words from several Loveridge Fellow alumni:

Daniel Castaneda, Fellow for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, 2018 Cohort

Out of all of the projects you had, what was the highlight of your internship?

“I wrote a paper about river revitalization projects published by the Pacific Council on International Policy and shared at the Speaker’s South East Los Angeles (SELA) Arts Festival. It was designed to generate support for AB530 and encourage Angelenos to reimagine use of the LA River. I enjoyed participating in generating new ideas and collaborating with other leaders in the Capitol to support the Speaker’s district.”

Natalia Garcia, Fellow for Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes, 2019 Cohort

What was an important lesson you learned from being a Loveridge Fellow?

“Professionally, I developed a key comprehension of the legislative process, staffed my Assemblymember in amending a resolution, and formed meaningful connections with those working in the state legislature. Personally, I gained greater confidence in my abilities as a public servant and made lasting friendships with my fellow cohort of incredible people.”

Joanna Mai, Fellow for American Lung Association, 2019 Cohort

What was the most memorable experience as a Loveridge Fellow?

“Meeting Mary Nichols, Chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board. I was advocating for clean air and transportation policies for my hometown, Los Angeles, and other highly polluted cities in California during one of the workshops. I’ve read books about her leading the fight for clean air against the federal government using the Clear Air Act in the 1970s, but I never imagined I’d be speaking in front of her one day!”

Meena Kaypour, Fellow for Assemblymember Jose Medina, 2018 Cohort

How did the Loveridge Fellowship impact your future aspirations and career?

“It allowed me to explore a new side of the law.  I went to Sacramento hoping to better understand the way our laws are created, and the motivation by which they are made. Now, almost two years later, I carry that understanding with me in law school as I navigate the way laws are expressed and their impact on our justice system.”

Ayesha Abbasi, Fellow for Community College League of California, 2019 Cohort

What kind of tasks did you take on during your internship?

“I took on the tasks of researching various higher education bills, attending committee meetings, lobbying legislators, and doing a deep dive into the history of California’s community colleges. My tasks allowed me to gain first-hand experience with the legislative system and grow confident in talking to major stakeholders from across the state of California.”

FEATURED PHOTO. Photo courtesy of Melissa Sagun, CHASS Marketing & Communications.
Last year's Loveridge Fellows included UCR students, beginning second from left: Joanna Mai, Melissa Sagun, Natalia Garcia, and Ayesha Abbasi.