internships

Internships in Senator Chris Van Hollen's Capitol Hill, Rockville, and Baltimore offices provide unique educational and professional development opportunities for students. Primary responsibilities of interns include:

Capitol Hill: supporting constituent correspondence by mail and phone, attending hearings and briefings, researching legislation and policy initiatives, composing press releases, compiling media clips, and drafting memos for staff and the Senator. Interns are required to work a minimum of 20–24 hours a week, and intern schedules will generally range from 22–26 hours a week.

Rockville/Baltimore: assisting with phone calls, supporting constituent casework, drafting correspondence to constituents and federal agencies, and attending community events, meetings, and briefings, and drafting memos for staff and the Senator. Interns are required to work a minimum of 20–24 hours a week, and intern schedules will generally range from 22–26 hours a week.

This position provides an opportunity to be part of a hard-working, cohesive team, to make a difference in the lives of others, and to increase one’s understanding of the operations of government agencies and the U.S. Congress.  Interns will be paid. This office is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and attentive to the needs of the diverse community and state we serve.

Priority is given to applicants who reside in Maryland. 

To be eligible for an internship during the fall or spring sessions in the Capitol Hill office, you must be able to work 20–24 hours a week (with a maximum of 26 hours) and be a rising college sophomore or older. To be eligible for an internship during the fall or spring sessions in the Rockville and Baltimore offices, you must be able to work 20–24 hours a week (with a maximum of 26 hours) and be a high school junior or above.

Spring 2025 Internship Session: January 7th - May 9, 2025

Fall 2025 Internship Session: September 2nd - December 19th, 2025

Spring 2026 Internship Session: January 5th - May 15th, 2026

This paid internship program honors the life and legacy of John Amara Walters. John was a dedicated and beloved member of the staff of Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.  John died at the age of 29 from complications of sickle cell disease on October 2, 2021.

John graduated magna cum laude from Howard University in 2015 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Political Science. While a student at Howard, John served as an intern for then-Congressman Van Hollen. He joined the staff in the House of Representatives following his graduation and moved to the Senate following the Senator’s swearing-in on January 3, 2017. 

As a member of the Senator’s staff, John directed the correspondence program and was a subject matter expert for the Senator on the issues of judicial nominations, criminal justice reform, gun safety, telecommunications and digital inclusion and equity, election security, consumer protection and safety, labor, postal issues, and federal employees. He was a devoted member of our office family who was always eager to serve and willing to give.

John passed away on October 2, 2021 in his mother’s arms at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He lived every moment to the fullest  – and though his life on this earth was short in years, it was long in the empathy, in the joy, and in the love he shared with all of us. Through this internship, we honor John’s life and his commitment to public service. 

To be eligible for the John Amara Walters Memorial Internship, a student must be a resident of Maryland and attend Howard University. Students must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours/week in the Senator’s Capitol Hill or state offices.

To be eligible for a summer internship, you must be a rising college sophomore or older and available to work  for the duration of one of the two scheduled summer sessions. Interns are required to work a minimum of 20–24 hours a week, and intern schedules will generally range from 22–26 hours a week. Please note that while our state’s proximity to Capitol Hill offers many advantages, it also greatly increases the demand for internship positions. While we endeavor to offer as many positions as we can, please understand that the process is very competitive. Our application process seeks interns who represent the diversity of the State of Maryland and who may not have had previous opportunities to obtain Congressional internship experience. Priority is given to Maryland residents who are rising college juniors and seniors or older.

Summer 2025 Internship Session I: May 19th - June 27th, 2025

Summer 2025 Internship Session II: July 7th - August 15th, 2025