Stephanie Tubbs Jones Summer Internship Application

 APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 30, 2026 (11:59pm) 

 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

It is important to have all documents and answers to questions ready to upload before beginning the application. The application may not automatically save and could potentially require you to start over.

• Any incomplete submissions will be disqualified.
  
  
• You will not be able to submit your application until all requested application items have been uploaded.
  
  
• Before beginning, please review all questions on the internship application.
  
  
• You will need to:
  
  • Upload your essay/personal statements in Word or PDF format
  • Upload your official academic transcript in PDF format
  • Upload or Email two letters of recommendation
    
    

• It is the applicant's sole responsibility to make sure all supplemental materials (i.e. reference letters) are submitted prior to the deadline for consideration. Any portion missing from an application denotes an incomplete submission and will not be reviewed.

• Finalists for the award will be contacted for a virtual interview with the award selection committee. 

• Only winners will be notified.

   

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Successful applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify:

• U.S. citizen or permit to work in the U.S.

• Currently or recently enrolled in a college or university full-time when applying for program.

• Holds incoming collegiate status as a senior.

• Demonstrated interest in public service, governance, and/or policy-making process.

In addition, you are required to obtain two letters of recommendation and a transcript from your educational institution. These items must be received no later than April 1, 2025.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

You should have the following documents ready for upload before you begin this application:

• Current Resume (optional)
  If you plan to upload your resume, please have the document available in PDF or Microsoft Word format for upload under the Skills Training section.
  
  
• Essay Questions
  Please prepare an essay response to the following questions in advance and upload each response to the corresponding question on the application. Be sure that your essay has one-inch margins on all sides, is double-spaced, typed in Times New Roman 11-12 pt. font, does not exceed one page for each question, and includes your name and essay title at the top of each page. Essays that exceed one page will not be reviewed.
  
  
• Letters of Recommendation
  Letters of recommendation should be uploaded.

 

Please accurately complete all of the required information in this section. A red asterisk (*) indicates that a question is required.

Of the policy issue areas listed below, pick the three that most interest you. Rank those three policy issue areas based upon your level of interest, with one (1) representing the highest and three (3) representing the lowest.

Please provide essay responses for the questions below. Be sure that all essays have one-inch margins on all sides, are double-spaced, are typed in Times New Roman 11-12 pt. font, do not exceed one page for each question, and include your name and essay title in the header.  We accept PDF or Microsoft Word Documents.

 

Essay #1

What do you expect to gain and contribute to the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Internship Program sponsored by the Delta Research and Educational Foundation in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)?

Essay #2

In your opinion, what is the most pressing public policy challenge facing the United States? Your essay should address the significance of the issue you have identified and your recommendations to reform current policy.

Essay #3

What do you consider to be the most critical domestic affairs issue(s) affecting African American women and why? Secondly, please explain how your future career path will enable you to address the issue(s).

In order for an application to be considered complete, two letters of recommendation must be submitted.  

At least one letter of recommendation must be written by a dean, department chair, academic advisor, or professor. The other letters may be from an employer, volunteer organization, or personal recommendation. Letters (except personal recommendation) must be on official letterhead, state the recommender's title, and provide contact information, i.e. email or telephone number.

Your official academic transcript must also be uploaded in PDF format.

By submitting this application, you attest that:

• You have accurately and honestly completed this internship application.
• You understand that if fraud or dishonesty is determined / discovered by DREF in its sole-discretion, any award moneys must be immediately returned.
• The essay submitted with this application contains only your own thoughts and writing.
• The letters of recommendation submited with this application are genuine, were provided by the recommenders, and have not been modified by you or any third party.
• The transcript(s) submitted with this application are your own, are complete, and are unaltered.
• You agree to the terms and conditions of this internship application and any subequent award.

After fully completing the above sections, please review your answers and then click the Submit button below to apply for this internship. Once you click submit, you will no longer have access to your application, so please carefully review your answers before submitting.