For political science majors interested in British or international politics and public policy, the LMU Institute for Leadership Studies offers a UK Parliamentary Fellowship that is a coveted opportunity. This semester’s ILS Parliamentary Fellow, Angelina Lin (’23), a political science major and public relations minor, is soaking up every moment in London gaining real insight on the British legislature from MP Alex Norris.
The UK Parliamentary Fellowship initially developed out of a friendship between Michael Genovese, professor of political science at LMU, and the Hon. Graham Allen, then a member of the British House of Commons for Nottingham North. Allen sponsored two U.S. students each year and hosted them as interns in his parliamentary office. Now, LMU’s Institute for Leadership Studies has taken it upon itself to continue providing students with internships each Spring Semester in the House of Commons while they complete academic coursework in London.
The Parliamentary Fellowship sends only the best students to London; political science majors apply their sophomore year and complete the internship during their junior year. This allows time for students to build a foundation for in-depth study of British politics, apply that knowledge to the quotidian operations of a MP office, and then bring real-world experiences and perspectives back to LMU and into their senior year classes. For Lin, this process began by taking “Comparative Politics” with Kerstin Fisk, associate professor of political science at LMU, as a sophomore, which introduced her to the British electoral system. Now in London, Lin gets to “geek out” over being a part of the processes she first learned about in the classroom. “Whether it’s following the progress of parliamentary bills from the House of Commons into the House of Lords (or vice versa!) or hearing about constituents’ thoughts on current as well as future policies, it’s really interesting being able to make connections from theories and other academic sources into whatever it is I am working on in the office.”
Lin has been most surprised by how hands-on the role has been. She really enjoys working with the team in MP Norris’ Westminster office, which has been very encouraging. “Because of the small size of MP staffs, the Fellowship has provided opportunities genuinely for the sake of learning,” says Lin. “I am not only working on tasks that directly support my MP’s duties, but also gaining valuable experience and real skills that can be applicable to my future career.”
Such an experience is part of the design of the Fellowship. “For the student, this is a transformational experience that develops their skills and tests them on every level. We throw them into the deep end of the water and given their preparation at LMU, allow them to shine and thrive. The level of student growth is astonishing. They come back different and more refined, mature and capable people,” says Professor Genovese.
For Lin, this experience has made her think more deeply about launching a career in politics and policy. Her favorite part has been tagging along to meetings, whether virtual or in-person, for her MP’s party or his specific roles in Parliament. The fellowship has opened a window into the world of international politics and Lin is looking forward to applying what she has learned to the social, political, and international issues that she is passionate about.