Greg Klein | Internship Spotlight

Greg Klein, MIA Class of 2017

1. Where and with whom did you do your internship?
   Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington, DC. I worked in the Western Hemisphere Office within USTR.
2. What were your primary responsibilities?
   I was responsible for supporting the USTR policy staff in the Western Hemisphere Office. . This permitted me to work on TPP, NAFTA, CAFTA-DR, and other bilateral trade issues. I participated in trade negotiating sessions, wrote policy memos, and conducted research.
3. Which of your previous classes or learning experiences were most useful to you during the internship?
   Ambassador Napper’s American Diplomacy course prepared me to write succinctly, a skill much appreciated by my USTR colleagues. Knowledge of the policy making process taught by Amb. Napper gave me a leg up in my internship. Dr. Robertson’s Globalization, Workers, and Development course helped me understand the economics and speak the language (often in acronyms) of trade.
4. What were the highlights or most important learning opportunities from your internship experience?
   Providing supporting research for a memo to the President on the topic of US import tariff history was a highlight. Also, witnessing the kabuki dance between the United States and Canada on trade issues due to our vast commercial relations fascinated me.
5. Do you have any advice for first year Bush School students who may be applying for an internship for this summer?
   While ideally an internship leads to permanent employment, it can also be an opportunity to test the waters. Consider taking advantage of the time to work in a field you might not be certain you want as your career.