Students gain hands-on experience in law, policy, advocacy through internships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three Penn State Liberal Arts students stepped out of the classroom and into Pennsylvania’s Capitol this summer as the first participants in the David M. and Joanne M. Kleppinger Pennsylvania Government Relations Internship Program.

The first cohort of Kleppinger Interns — Hunter Steach, a fourth-year Schreyer Honors Scholar and political science major from Harrisburg; Miranda Nace, a fourth-year political science major from Halifax; and Evelyn Chick, a third-year international politics major from Carlisle — quickly discovered that government relations is as much about people as it is about policy.

The program was established through a $280,000 gift from the Kleppingers to the College of the Liberal Arts. David Kleppinger, current chair of Penn State’s Board of Trustees and a 1977 political science alumnus, said he and his wife created the endowment to ease financial barriers and open doors for students to build skills, expand their networks and strengthen their preparedness for professional settings.

“It’s deeply rewarding to see these internships off to such a strong start,” David Kleppinger said. “Hearing how the students grew, the connections they made and the confidence they gained confirms for Joanne and me that this program is making the impact we hoped it would.”

Where policy meets people

Steach and Chick spent the summer interning with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, the law firm where Kleppinger built his career in government relations and later served as chair. They assisted attorneys with regulatory research, observed client meetings with state officials and prepared briefing materials that informed advocacy strategies.

Nace interned with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. At the Chamber, Nace drafted memos on legislative bills, created daily updates on activity in the Capitol and analyzed measures from the business community’s perspective. She said the Kleppinger endowment eased financial pressure and gave her the freedom to pursue experiences that mattered.

“I could talk forever about how grateful I am for this chance. It’s given me the space to grow; to learn and to see the kind of impact I want to make in the future.”

That growth came full circle at “Intern Day” at the Capitol, where she met the Kleppingers shortly after addressing hundreds of attendees on the Capitol steps.

“Standing up there talking about how critical internships are was a very proud moment. I felt empowered.”

Steach, Nace and Chick all say the Kleppinger Internship left them with sharper skills, a stronger sense of direction and a foundation they plan to carry into their next steps, whether in law school, national security, advocacy or other fields.  Whether they were researching legislation, shadowing the mayor of Reading, attending meetings with lawmakers or working with members of the business community, all three saw that advocacy depends on listening and making sure a wide range of perspectives are gathered.

“I learned that real influence comes from building trust and amplifying the voices of others, especially those who may otherwise have none,” Chick said.

From classrooms to careers

For the College of the Liberal Arts, programs like the Kleppinger Internship reflect an ongoing commitment to preparing students for life after graduation. Alongside opportunities such as study abroad, alumni engagement and undergraduate research, internships give students the chance to apply what they learn in meaningful ways.

“Internships like the Kleppinger program give our students the skills, networks and confidence to turn their liberal arts education into rewarding careers,” said Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts. “They are essential in ensuring our students graduate ready to lead in their chosen fields.”

Steach said the internship gave him a clearer view of how policy decisions are made and why they matter, especially after helping research the legal angles of pending legislation. Nace, meanwhile, noted that every conversation offered a new perspective on the challenges communities face and the ways people work together to address them.

For Chick, sitting in on client meetings and shadowing attorneys reinforced how professional relationships drive results. “The professional relationships I built stood out most,” she said. “Everyone I met wanted to connect me with someone else who could help. That kind of support made me realize how strong the Penn State network really is.”

The Kleppingers said they see the interns’ experiences as just the beginning of what they hope will be a long tradition of student success.

“Seeing this first group succeed gives us so much optimism for the future,” David Kleppinger said. “If the program continues to have this kind of impact, we’ll know it’s truly helping students find their place in the dynamic government relations profession.”