Angel Hart Funk is one of 12 students participating this fall in The Harrisburg Internship Semester program.
Junior Angel Hart Funk believes her passion for politics, major, and educational opportunities provided by Cal U are preparing her well as she aspires to be a government affairs representative.
A communications and public relations major, with a minor in journalism, Funk is working in the office of Gov. Tom Wolf this semester as part of a 15-week internship sponsored by Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
She is one of 12 students participating this term in The Harrisburg Internship Semester program.
THIS gives students from each of the 14 State System universities the opportunity to work in state government while earning a full semester’s worth of credits. Funk and her fellow THIS participants will attend academic seminars and complete an individualized research project as part of the program’s requirements.
Funk, of California, Pa., serves as a liaison through written and verbal correspondence for the governor with constituents and different agencies.
During her first few weeks in Harrisburg, several memorable experiences included sitting on the floor of the House for the budget address, attending Wolf’s news conference announcing plans for increasing minimum wage, and receiving advice from APSCUF president Dr. Ken Mash and staff members Sean Crampsie and Kathryn Morton. She called meeting the governor in person “incredible.”
“All of the people in the governor’s office truly want to see you learn and grow as a young professional,” Funk said. “I’ve already made amazing connections, and every day I get to witness change-makers and people who truly care about the future of Pennsylvania.
“It’s empowering and inspires me to follow in their footsteps.”
Dr. Melanie Blumberg, campus coordinator for THIS and a professor in the Department of History, Politics, Society and Law, praised Funk.
“Angel’s background in communications and love of politics make her a perfect fit for the Harrisburg internship,” Blumberg said.
Funk intends on sharing her experience and research with students in the spring, possibly at the Strike-A-Spark Conference.
“More than anything I would love to speak to students about what an absolutely once-in-a lifetime opportunity THIS is, as the experience already has opened so many doors for me that I could have never reached on my own,” she said.
Funk said her classes and experience working with student media services helped prime her for the internship.
“The academic experience I’ve received at Cal U has created a solid foundation that set me up to take on the landscape in a government position,” she said. “I can honestly say that the internship was the supplement I need to figure out the career path I want to pursue after graduation.”
For information about THIS, students may contact Dr. Melanie Blumberg at blumberg@calu.edu or call the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg at 717-720-4089. Details are available at passhe.edu/this.