Department of State Political Science Student Connects with Alum During Internship
UCF College of Sciences Knights are making an impact in Washington, D.C.! During a recent internship, Political Science student Lindsey González worked at the Department of State, where she met up with alum Nick Grandchamps ‘15. Grandchamps serves as a Foreign Service Officer for the Department of State and graduated with his B.A. in Political Science.
González said, “Meeting Nick was one of the highlights of my internship. Getting to meet a Knight in the Department of State was so exciting, and it solidified what I already knew – that UCF was the right choice for the path that I want to go down. Most of all, getting to know Nick was a great way to feel more at home while hundreds of miles away.”
“I have a passion for working with students like Lindsey because they are the next generation of scholars who will make a huge difference in the world,” Grandchamps explained.
We spoke with both of them to learn more about their journeys to the Department of State.
Meet Nick Grandchamps ‘15
During his senior year at UCF, Grandchamps received the 2015 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship. As a fellow, he completed his master’s in Global Governance, Politics and Security at American University and worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as a policy advisor. In addition, he worked at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.
After this experience, he began working for the Department of State in 2017. Throughout his time there, he served at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulate General Istanbul. He works as a member of the Executive Secretariate Staff supporting the Secretary of State’s travel and engagements worldwide.
Grandchamps’ advice to current students is: “UCF truly stands for opportunity, and I encourage all students to take advantage of the countless on and off campus opportunities that exist. Seek out internships, fellowships and other opportunities to advance your leadership, communication and writing skills. Most importantly, trust that your time studying at UCF has prepared you for the next chapter.”
Meet Lindsey González
Lindsey González interned in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Office of Press and Diplomacy. As part of her internship, she worked on reports, communications, talking points and social media posts used by policymakers to further U.S. foreign policy initiatives.
González said, “I was able to meet so many amazing people. From State Department superiors, to fellow interns, to young professionals from around the world, I was exposed to so many ways of life.”
According to Grandchamps, “Lindsey is incredible and has already achieved so much at UCF. Though she is still a student, she already embodies the UCF Young Alumni values. She is a tremendous scholar of international relations and is trailblazing her own path to a career in international relations. As the world faces a myriad of complex problems, students like Lindsey bring new perspectives and solutions.”
Learn more about the UCF School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs here.