As part of this community, we’ll explore careers that handle all aspects of creating, passing, implementing, and enforcing laws and policies. People who work in government, law, policy, and international affairs are passionate about affecting change. They focus on serving the public good at the local, state, federal, and international level.
Heather DeLand, the career specialist for government, law, policy, and international affairs, has years of experience working with students as they enter each of those professional industries. Heather was an internships and careers coordinator and taught courses on career development, intersectionality, writing, and history at UMass Amherst. She brought her passion for hosting programs and collaborating with students to Smith when she joined the Lazarus Center in 2023. Heather has a Ph.D. from UMass Amherst, an M.A. from the University of North Florida, and a B.A. from the University of Florida.
In fall 2023, members of the career community spent a day at Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law touring the campus, attending a seminar, and having lunch with Smith alums who are currently attending WNEU School of Law.
Heather DeLand (right), career specialist, meets with Iris Liu '27, an active member of the Government, Law, Policy, & International Affairs career community.
Smith students listen to public affairs officials in the Pentagon Press Briefing Room during a visit to the Pentagon hosted by Honorable Laura Taylor-Kale '00, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy.
During a career trek to Washington DC in July 2024, students toured the U.S. Capitol and attended a panel discussion with Smith alums who are currently working in Congress.
Assistant professor Brent Durbin moderates a panel of Smithies working in Washington DC at the home of Susan Rosenbaum '67, who hosted current students and alums for dinner and networking.
In fall 2023, members of the career community spent a day at Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law touring the campus, attending a seminar, and having lunch with Smith alums who are currently attending WNEU School of Law.
Heather DeLand (right), career specialist, meets with Iris Liu '27, an active member of the Government, Law, Policy, & International Affairs career community.
Smith students listen to public affairs officials in the Pentagon Press Briefing Room during a visit to the Pentagon hosted by Honorable Laura Taylor-Kale '00, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy.
During a career trek to Washington DC in July 2024, students toured the U.S. Capitol and attended a panel discussion with Smith alums who are currently working in Congress.
Assistant professor Brent Durbin moderates a panel of Smithies working in Washington DC at the home of Susan Rosenbaum '67, who hosted current students and alums for dinner and networking.
In fall 2023, members of the career community spent a day at Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law touring the campus, attending a seminar, and having lunch with Smith alums who are currently attending WNEU School of Law.
Heather DeLand (right), career specialist, meets with Iris Liu '27, an active member of the Government, Law, Policy, & International Affairs career community.
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Drop-In Hours
Heather and Anna Silverstein, assistant director of graduate & professional school advising, host "Get-It-Done Wednesdays." Grab your lunch and join us for a power hour of co-working and conversations in Campus Center, Room 102.
Wednesday, September 11, noon–1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9, noon–1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 6, noon–1 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4, noon–1 p.m.
Resources
Job Boards
USAJOBS.gov - The federal government's official site for entry-level and experienced job hunters.
Idealist.org - Comprehensive non-profit job resource. Keyword for organizations, jobs, and internships in public policy and by policy issue.
Public Service Careers - Opportunities, advice, and links in government, policy, NGOs, and more.
Brookings Institution - nonprofit public policy research organization based in Washington, DC.
Carter Center Internship Program - A nongovernmental non-profit with the goal of advancing human rights and alleviatinbg human suffering. Paid summer internships through a number of programs and offices within three broad areas: Peace, Health and Operations.
GoinGlobal helps job and internship seekers find opportunities both at home and abroad. Features career & city guides, job & internship search, employer directory, searchable H1B Visa information and more. Access GoinGlobal for FREE on any on-campus device: online.goinglobal.com and create an account. Off-campus users login via Handshake.
Council on Foreign Relations - independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher focused on foreign policy. See available internships
Equal Justice Works LSAC.org - Law School Admission Council. Check out upcoming events, LSAT information, application procedures, law school sites, and more.
Oyez Supreme Court of the United States archive: has recordings of all oral arguments, summaries of case arguments/court’s opinion, and breakdown of how the justices sided.
Community Engagement & Social Change Concentration students combine interdisciplinary coursework and practical work in communities to expand and deepen your understanding of local, national and global issues that affect communities.
The Jean Picker Semester-in-Washington Program is a first-semester program open to Smith junior and senior government majors and to other Smith juniors and seniors with appropriate background in the social sciences. It provides students with an opportunity to study processes by which public policy is made and implemented at the national level
The Smith College Fellowships Program advises Smith students and recent alumnae who wish to apply for competitive national and international fellowships.
Heshani Wijemanne ’08 talks about her early career in government and how she became the engrossing and enrolling clerk for the California State Senate.
