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February 2, 2007

City of Monroe praises ULM’s Internship Program

During the summer of 2006, John W. Sutherlin, assistant professor in political science at ULM, contacted the City of Monroe to discuss the idea of an on-going internship program that would train students who were planning to attend law school or pursue a career in public service.

Now, only two semesters old, this internship program is giving students invaluable working experience, Sutherlin said. “I called Kim Golden with the mayor’s office,” he said. “She always tells me right away if it’s a good idea or a bad one. This one looked good for both the city and ULM.”

Last semester student Terry Blakely worked on legal research and depositions under the guidance of city attorneys.

Currently, Dale Keirn Willson, of Port Orchard, Wash., a political science major, is the city intern. Typically, interns work between 10 and 15 hours per week at City Hall. They learn a great deal about the operations of city government.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work with the City of Monroe, and I look forward to learning more about the functions of government. I feel very blessed and grateful," Willson said.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said, “This internship program is a partnership with ULM. We see this as a great opportunity for students to gain real world experience and enhance their job skills.”

Sutherlin hopes the internship program will eventually incorporate law firms, political campaigns and other governmental agencies.

“We have an obligation to provide a diverse educational experience to our students. This program takes them out of the classroom and into the real world.”

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