Students choose GW for the unparalleled opportunity to thrive in the heart of the nation’s capital, where they are supported at every step of their journey—from their first class to their first internship, to graduation, and beyond.
Named the 'Best School for Internships' by The Princeton Review, GW offers students access to more than 12,000 internships each year across vital fields like government, nonprofits, media, research, and the arts. While many of these exceptional internships are unpaid, the GW Career Services Council created the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) to empower students to pursue these high-impact experiences, bridging the gap between career exploration and academic growth by easing the financial burden of unpaid internships.
When I first started my relationship with GW and the School of Engineering nearly 25 years ago as a member of the School of Engineering National Advisory Council and later as a member of the GW Board of Trustees, one of my biggest priorities was to help GW improve its Career Services support to Undergraduate and Graduate students.
In 2004, I volunteered to lead the School of Engineering’s Career Services Center with the mission of helping the students get internships, part-time, and full-time jobs.
I have always believed that internships offer the best way for students to position themselves for great full-time jobs upon graduation. There are so many benefits to be gained from internships.
In 2014, I learned about GW’s relatively new KACIF program, which helps students who find internship opportunities that do not offer payment. The dilemma is that the student cannot afford to take the internship without some financial support.
KACIF offers student grants that offset the lack of income, and afford these students the opportunities to earn the benefits that internships provide as I outlined above.
My wife and I decided to make KACIF a priority with one caveat…every December, we would host a pizza party where a large number of KACIF students would tell us how their internship worked out: what they did, what did they learn, and whether this internship experience led to an immediate job offer or an offer from another source. I was blown away by the stories that I heard. A large number of these internships were very challenging and would be a perfect addition to their resume, many were overseas, and yes, a significant number led to job offers upon graduation.
I urge anyone who reads this to take advantage of Debbie’s and my offer to match your donation to the KACIF program. You will feel good about your investment in the future of these GW students.
53 days ago by Alan HamYour gift to GW’s internship fund can help students like Keaton access these transformative opportunities and set the stage for a lifetime of success.
"When I first moved to the US, I was thrilled about the possibility of joining the International Rescue Committee…My studies at GW brought me one step closer to that goal.
As a rising senior, I finally had the opportunity to join IRC as a Skill Building and Employment Intern, directly helping refugees and immigrants build essential skills and find employment."
- Ayesha, ESIA’25
"Working at the DC Office of the Attorney General was honestly the experience of a lifetime!
My internship opened my eyes to just how much goes on in local government, and it was so rewarding getting to be a small part of that work for the DC community."
- Jax, CCAS '25
58 days ago by Alan HamFor students like Fayaz, ESIA'25, internships can be transformational:
"I'm incredibly grateful for this internship and the support from GW. This internship has broadened my skills and clarified my career path in global communication and international development."
Students like Trevor, ESIA '27, who came to GW as a first-year undergraduate student in August 2023 and one year later accepted an internship at the Ronald Reagan Institute in D.C.
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