Clements summer policy intern Jennifer Johnson at IISS in Washington, D.C.

This summer I had the opportunity to intern at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C.

My responsibilities involved helping to manage the Institute’s many events, including policy discussions on the strategic implications of the Iran Nuclear Deal with Mark Fitzpatrick and Dr. Trita Parsi, book launches for IISS publications about Boko Haram and Chinese Foreign Policy, and military analysis of current international conflicts from Brigadier Ben Barry. These events have introduced me to new topics in international security and catalyzed my interest in learning more.

I’ve also had the opportunity to visit many think tanks around town. It has been a valuable learning experience to see politicians, news correspondents, and policymakers engage in vibrant discussions of U.S. foreign policy during the question and answer segments.

My favorite part of the internship, however, has been assisting our Middle East office as they prepare for the upcoming Manama Dialogue Regional Security Summit in Bahrain this fall. My assignments included conducting research on the invitees, retrieving contact information, and drafting invitations for both the U.S. Congressional and the US Governmental Delegations.