Legislative Internship Program: Reagan Steele

Reagan Steele was one of only 12 students selected to participate in the 2019 Legislative Internship Program at the North Carolina General Assembly. Now in its 26th session, the program is administered by and includes classes from NC State’s Department of Political Science. The program is open to students from all North Carolina colleges and universities. 

Reagan will graduate from NC State in 2021 with a major in political science, a concentration in public policy, and a minor in agricultural business management. She plans to attend law school after graduation.

Why did you want to be a legislative intern?

I have an interest in policy and government and what better way to learn how policies are crafted into laws than working in a legislative office.

What was the most valuable part of this program for you?

I interned in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown, which allowed me to sit in on committee meetings, watch the Senate session from the floor, to network and meet people that worked on all different aspects of policy.

Each legislative intern cohort consists of students from schools all over the state. Did you like that aspect of the program?

Yes, I found it very valuable that we had students from all over the state and with diverse backgrounds. During our internship class, we all had the opportunity to learn and grow together and the diversity of beliefs made for great discussions and debates. We were all pretty close and we would eat lunch together and many of us built friendships that we still have today. A former participant in this program, Chris Stock, who works for Sen. Brent Jackson, gave me a lot of great advice and help throughout my internship and we still keep in touch today.

Do you have a favorite class or professor who influenced your education or career goals?

Dr. Solari got me interested in public policy as a freshman in PS102. Dr. McLennan, who taught one of our classes that semester, was great. He is a professor at Meredith College and I probably would not have had the opportunity to take a class with him if it wasn’t for this internship program. I always looked forward to Dr. McLennan’s class because we learned things that related to our internships and his class involved a lot of professional development, lively discussions and debates. We used what we learned in class while at work in the General Assembly, and our experiences in the Legislature made our course material relatable.

Professor Branan taught my agricultural resource economics class and was helpful in guiding me towards agricultural and environmental law and policy. I have a passion for agriculture—coming from a rural farming community—and was able to blend that, and my passion for law, into my intended career path. Directly after finishing my legislative internship, I had the opportunity to intern with the NC Pork Council as a policy intern with Policy and Government Affairs Director Angie Maier. She inspired me and taught me so much about government affairs, policy, and lobbying. It was also interesting going from being a member of a legislative office to working for an interest group.

What is a typical day like in your current position?

I am currently interning for Judge Jefferson Griffin’s campaign for the NC Court of Appeals as I finish my last year at NC State. I do a lot of event organizing, which is a bit more difficult with the current COVID-19 pandemic, but we have managed to have some great virtual events and are utilizing social media quite a bit. I also do a good bit of research on various legal topics and judicial positions for key issues, which I enjoy.

How did this internship and your degree program at NC State prepare you for your future?

I have had a lot of great opportunities and experiences during my time at NC State, but the legislative internship helped me build connections that led to other internship and opportunities. My courses in political science, public policy, and environmental and agricultural law have given me a solid foundation of knowledge regarding policy and the legal system. I am currently applying to law school and feel my education and internships have prepared me well.

Do you have any advice for current students who are considering applying for the Legislative Internship Program?

If you are interested, you should apply. This internship was an all-around wonderful program and I continue to build on what I learned. It is a great opportunity if you are interested in a career in law, policy, government, or private sector advocacy and it could also lead to another internship or job in the future.