TEXARKANA, Ark. — The U.S. Department of State recently announced a new paid student internship program that students from the Texarkana region can apply for.
The program is intended to expand opportunities for students of all backgrounds in post-secondary degree programs to gain experience and insight into the variety of careers available in U.S. foreign policy programs, as well as administration of the U.S. Department of State and its diplomatic missions worldwide.
While the application process for the fall 2022 season has concluded, students will soon be able to apply for the spring 2023 season.
Students selected for the program will receive pay at the GS-04 level, currently $17.51 per hour in Washington, D.C. They will also receive transportation to and housing at their duty stations, whether in Washington or overseas. As temporary civil service employees of the State Department, they will also earn annual leave, sick leave and time-in-service credit.
Diplomat-in-Residence J. Nathan Bland is recruiting candidates from the South Central region of the country. He is from Leesville, Louisiana, and based at Tulane University.
Bland said by providing paid internships, the State Department is seeking to remove barriers for students who may not have the financial means to support themselves during an unpaid, volunteer internship.
He encouraged Texarkana students who may be interested in foreign affairs at the federal level to apply.
“The first thing I would say to a Texarkana student is look at me – I’m a Louisiana boy from Leesville,” Bland said. “My role here is to reach out to students in the middle of the South to let them know that is possible and help them find their way there.”
Bland said he participated in program.
“I personally think our student programs are the best way to get in the door at the Department of State,” he said. “That’s how I started, but back when I did it, it was unpaid.”
The paid student internship program is part of the Department of State’s continued efforts to reflect the diversity of the United States and to encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups to pursue its student and career opportunities. The Department intends to make all its internships paid in 2023.
“If anyone is interested at all in international relations or foreign policy and diplomacy, this is the student program to do,” Bland said. “We are the lead foreign affairs agency of the U.S. government on the federal level. We work overseas in our embassies and consulates all over the world. We’re in 191 countries, and we have 270 missions abroad.
“So, if anyone is looking for that type of global experience, we have a wide variety of options and career paths for you.”
The paid student internship program will consider all qualified applicants for the 10-week internships.
Students must meet all the following requirements:
• Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application;
• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be enrolled in an accredited academic institution on at least a part-time basis, pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree;
• Be in good academic standing with at least a 3.0 GPA;
• Be a college junior, senior or graduate student with at least 60 credit hours completed;
• Be able to pass and retain suitability and background clearance requirements.
(For more information, contact Bland at [email protected] or visit careers.state.gov/intern/student-internships/.)
Read More: Texarkana students can apply for State Department paid internship