August 05, 2024

Washington, D.C. summer program builds next generation of leaders

Students from around the country were given the unique opportunity to live, work and learn in Washington, D.C., this summer through a brand-new program.

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University held its inaugural D.C. Leadership Academy from June 4 through July 23 to prepare the next generation of leaders for law and public policy careers. For eight weeks, undergraduate, graduate and law students attended two-hour sessions each week while networking with some of the brightest in the nation’s capital. Session topics included writing the perfect cover letter, getting hired in D.C. and leadership skills. The sessions were free and held in the evening to accommodate students’ internships, a requirement for attending the academy. 

Noemi Bekteshi, an incoming third-year law student at ASU Law, said she was encouraged to apply for the program after securing a summer internship at Lawyers Without Borders, an international nonprofit that advances the global rule of law. 

“I want to be able to advocate for human rights,” she said of her career aspirations. “I want to start out by helping people within my community and then slowly move broader, litigation-wise, into the international sphere. After that, I want to use the knowledge I gained from those experiences to provide more robust human rights and rule of law policies globally. I thought that the Leadership Academy would be insightful when doing that type of work.”

Bekteshi added that the cost-free program was “helpful and insightful” for individuals interested in a career in public policy or leadership. It provided essential connections, particularly beneficial for those without a legal background or established network.

“I would absolutely encourage other students to participate,” she said. “I was able to learn so many new things that I can apply practically, and many, myself included, have found new connections through the Academy. I would tell you, why not?”

Cara Wilson, earning her bachelor’s degree in public policy and Near Eastern language and culture at the University of Chicago, said the experience was invaluable to her as an undergraduate student while interning with the Nuclear Materials Security Group at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, which works to strengthen global nuclear security. 

“I hope to work in international energy and non-proliferation policy at the U.S. Department of Energy,” said Wilson. “My mentors have had positive experiences at the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, and I hope to follow in their footsteps. I wanted a community of similar leaders in D.C. I have been exposed to many career paths and down-to-earth leaders. I was impressed by how many people wanted to take time out of their day to help interns and share their professional resources with us.”

She said she was exposed to many career paths she hadn’t considered previously and appreciated meeting and learning with other ASU Law students who humanized the law school experience for her and made it seem easily within her grasp. 

“D.C. has so much to do, but I am very grateful for the once-a-week anchor that the academy provided for me,” said Wilson. 

Second-year ASU Law student Ahmad Daaboul hopes to work in international law, making the D.C. Leadership Academy the perfect place to hone his networking skills for the future. 

“As soon as I heard about the program, I was immediately drawn to its unique opportunities,” he said. “I recognized that the Academy could provide access to experiences and networks that few other programs could offer. What further encouraged me to apply was the prospect of connecting with other students who shared my interests and ambitions. The opportunity to attend weekly panels and informative sessions led by accomplished local attorneys was particularly compelling. I saw it as a stepping stone towards achieving my career goals in the legal field.”

Like Wilson, Daaboul said it has been particularly eye-opening to learn about the different career paths available as a law student from speakers from law firms, the federal government, and more. 

“The academy has not only honed my leadership skills but also instilled a clear sense of direction and an ambitious mindset for my future in the legal profession,” he said. 

 

Written by Lindsay Walker