We are proud to welcome our Fall 2020 Intern Class, a remarkable group of 10 young professionals and students from across the country.
Since the founding of our firm, we have opened our doors to young professionals interested in the government relations field, and as the firm’s capabilities have diversified to include public affairs and strategic advisory services, so has our internship program. This summer we received more than 130 applicants and selected 10, making this class the largest in Cornerstone history.
As we embrace the new normal for how we work during the COVID-19 pandemic and make the most of virtual experiences, our Fall interns will work remotely to support our federal government relations, public affairs, advisory services, and operations and marketing teams.
Kyle Bligen
Kyle joins Cornerstone Government Affairs as a policy intern from the National Bureau of Asian Research, where he served as a congressional relations fellow advising congressional staff on matters of international economics and military affairs pertaining to the United States’ strategic position in Asia.
As a Rangel international affairs fellow for the U.S. Department of State, Kyle will enter the Foreign Service upon completion of his master’s degree from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. As a Rangel fellow, Kyle has analyzed economic and security developments in the Indo-Pacific region and developed trade, security, and diplomatic policies at overseas U.S. Embassies. Before joining the Department of State, Kyle served as a House Homeland Security Committee fellow, Congressional Black Caucus fellow, and an economic analyst for the BB&T Center for Research in Public Policy and Capitalism.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: My passion for public service directly aligns with my interest in economic development. While in undergrad, I immersed myself in courses and research that deepened my understanding of the world economy. However, I desired to turn my knowledge into practical application. The summer of my junior year, I served as a legislative fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus. While at our nation’s capital, I briefed Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) on economic issues affecting families and farmers in Middle Georgia. I was overjoyed when Congressman Bishop produced reforms for the 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, citing my research.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: During my senior year, my partner and I had the honor of winning the 2018 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Championship, becoming the first African Americans in history to win the award.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I desire to assist Cornerstone in executing its mission of providing bipartisan federal government relations services. Additionally, I would like to gain further understanding of how advisory firms navigate the complex federal landscape.
Ryan Bullard
Ryan is a recent law school graduate with an interest in tax law and policy. In that space, he has worked at the federal and state government levels, as a tax law clerk for the Senate Finance Committee and as a legal intern for the Revenue Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice. In private practice, Ryan was a summer associate in a large law firm’s tax practice group and holds an offer to practice tax law with the firm after taking the bar exam and the pandemic subsides. Academically, Ryan has published two law journal articles and has been a research assistant to one of his tax law professors.
Ryan grew up in North Carolina, and aside from stints in the UK, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., has lived in North Carolina his entire life. He went to UNC-Chapel Hill for undergrad and law school. Currently, Ryan is studying for the bar exam and doesn’t have much free time, but when he does, he enjoys playing squash, gardening, and reading.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: Government comes naturally—over the course of seven years I have had three congressional internships and one state government internship, in addition to a JD and BAs in political science and public policy. My first exposure to government relations came last fall as a law clerk on the Finance Committee, and I have been interested in learning more about the government relations industry since that time.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: When gyms are open, I play squash! Since the pandemic began, I’ve taken up gardening. I’m also a voracious reader, though that has been somewhat limited this summer by bar prep.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: Substantive exposure to the (tax) policymaking process from stakeholders’ perspectives. General exposure to the operations and processes of a government affairs firm. Staying current with tax policy issues through projects and research.
Trisha Camara
Trisha is a second-year graduate student at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, focusing on program evaluation and statistical analysis. Previously, Trisha has interned in government affairs positions, working for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) as a policy research intern, and the Legal Services Corporation as a government relations intern. More recently, Trisha worked for the Eurasia Group, and as a data analyst graduate assistant where she has developed quantitative and statistical analysis skills that will be applicable to policymaking and evaluating in the future. After graduation, Trisha will join the Foreign Service as a 2018 Pickering Fellow where she will focus her skills on economic development and trade.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: I became interested in government affairs during my time working for Senator Durbin. I enjoyed talking with constituents and really learning more about the legislative process. I am excited to learn more about D.C. politics while continuing my last year of policy school.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: While I was born left-handed, I have since taught myself to write with both hands, and can easily switch off when driving, eating, or playing sports.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I hope to gain substantive experience in memo writing. I also am excited to learn about different issue areas through congressional hearings.
Grace Chisholm
Grace is a junior at Georgetown University majoring in government and minoring in Spanish and religion, ethics, and world affairs. Before joining the Cornerstone team, Grace worked as a policy intern at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas where she focused on citizen participation and criminal justice reform. Prior to her time at the ACLU of Kansas, Grace worked as a legislative intern for Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS). In addition, she has worked as a finance intern at Jackie Gordon for Congress. At school, Grace is a research assistant with The Free Speech Project, an associate board member of the Georgetown University Lecture Fund, and president of Georgetown’s chapter of the College Diabetes Network. Originally from Fairway, Kansas, Grace is a proud Midwesterner. She is interested in health, technology and telecommunications, and international affairs.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: Sometimes it feels as though I have always been interested in the way that government impacts people’s lives. As a youth ambassador for JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), I lobbied my representatives in the House and Senate to renew the Special Diabetes Program. As a result, for several years while growing up I said I wanted to be the president one day. For me, the public arena is one of the best avenues to advocate for the betterment of people’s lives and enable meaningful, positive change. I have always wanted to be involved – in some capacity – in facilitating that advancement. My academic experiences at Georgetown offered an intellectual foundation on which I could build a real future in this work, courses in comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, to name a few, connecting my lifelong passion to real-world practice.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I love to code! I took an introductory Python coding course last spring and became enamored with the process. While I am not particularly great at it (I would by no means call myself proficient yet), I find so much joy in the work. In fact, I began writing a program this summer that would have allowed one of my former colleagues to parse through prison and jail data, which is often released by corrections agencies in a jumbled variety of formats. (Sadly, the project for which it would have been useful was moved to the back burner, and my attention was pulled in other directions for the rest of my tenure, so I have not been able to finish it yet.)
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: My goals for this internship fall into four main categories: concrete skills, relationship-building, industry knowledge, and process knowledge. First, I hope to strengthen my research and writing skills, improve my analytical thinking, and sharpen my oral communication skills. Second, I want to build strong connections with Cornerstone staff members and my fellow intern cohort, to learn with and from them as we work collaboratively and interact during meetings and conversations. Third, I want to increase my industry knowledge across Cornerstone’s areas of expertise, working on a breadth of issue areas in order to gather as much experience as possible (and hopefully identify my policy niche). Finally, I wish to better understand how the private sector and public sector meet to influence public policy decision-making.
Sarah Dresh
Sarah is originally from southern New Jersey, but has wanted to move near Washington, D.C. ever since she discovered her admiration for politics. This interest has brought her to her junior year at the University of Maryland, where she is currently studying government and politics with a minor in history. For Sarah’s first two years at Maryland, she was an associate of the CIVICUS Living and Learning Program – a selective program dedicated to community service and civic engagement. Sarah is also an alumnus of the Federal Fellows Program, where she enrolled in a homeland and national security seminar taught by government officials. During the Spring 2020 semester, Sarah completed an internship in the House of Representatives and worked alongside legislative staff by researching bills, speaking with constituents, and attending committee hearings.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Sarah plans to attend law school near Washington D.C. She hopes to concentrate in either administrative or national security law, so she can continue to pursue her policy and career interests while practicing law.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: I became interested in government affairs after completing an internship on Capitol Hill. I found that I was more interested in covering a few policy areas extensively, rather than working on every issue sparingly. After learning more about government affairs, I knew I would have more opportunities to focus on issues I loved learning about. Moreover, working with a government affairs team would mean that I can observe policymaking from a different perspective.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I’m a HUGE Grateful Dead fan! I went to see Dead and Company for my first concert and have loved their music ever since.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I am excited to learn more about policy analysis and government consulting. I hope that working with the CGA team will strengthen my knowledge about certain policy issues while I also learn more about government operations from the perspective of the private sector.
Lilian Jensen
Lilian is originally from Pinedale, Wyoming, about an hour south of Jackson Hole. She decided to attend Villanova University to experience the East Coast and graduated in May 2020. Lilian majored in economics and double minored in business and marketing. She recently moved to D.C. and is excited to get to know the city better. Outside of school and work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and finding new restaurants.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: I became interested in government and public affairs during my time at Villanova University and through my internship experiences. Last summer, I interned at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance as well as Verde Brand Communications. Upon completing both internships, I realized that public affairs combined the elements of nonprofit work as well as public relations that I enjoyed the most. I also believe that public affairs allows me to leverage my economics major and marketing minor.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: In the summer of 2019, I climbed Fremont Peak in Wyoming with my mom. The summit was 14,000 feet and we ended up hiking 33 miles in three days. One of the coolest things I’ve done!
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I hope to gain a very thorough and in-depth understanding of government and public affairs. I believe that working on various projects will allow me to see elements of strategy, analysis, communications, and other facets of the business.
Tyler Kuhn
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Tyler first lived in Washington as a congressional page for the House of Representatives his junior year of high school. After high school, he earned an A.B. magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. During his undergrad years, he served as an intern in the Washington office of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).
Since enrolling at Georgetown University for law school, Tyler has worked for various NGAs and government agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the United States Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, the National Governors Association, and the United States Coast Guard. In law school, he serves as an executive online editor for The Georgetown Law Journal and as a teaching assistant for William Treanor, Dean of Georgetown Law.
Following graduation, he will be working at a major international law firm in Houston, Texas, specializing in corporate and private equity law.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: I have lived in the DMV area for approximately four years. In that time, I have worked for a law firm, a large corporation, the NGA, the military, the Hill, and two government agencies. I am now eager to experience this side of policy-making.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I am working on my earning my pilot’s license.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I wanted to learn more about the government relations business. How it operates, how firms differentiate themselves, and the specific deliverables they are able to render for their clients.
Chase Langos
Chase Langos currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was born and raised. Chase graduated from Iowa State University in 2019 with a major in advertising and double minor in history and business. He has worked in many positions in the marketing industry including graphic design, client relations, and project coordination. Chase loves all things history and politics, helping to combine his past experience in marketing, with his current interests in government.
In Chase’s free time, he is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. By extension, he loves fantasy football and digging into stats and games. He also enjoys playing tennis, reading, music, and playing games with friends – which also includes building the computers they play on! Chase loves diving into anything sports, history, and politics when he gets the chance.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading and learning about history. Beginning when I was younger, learning about military history and growing into a love for policy, politics, and how these pieces affect our daily lives.
As I observed government and politics from the sidelines in my history classes, and through news, I realized the influence this industry has in bettering the world. As a result, I continue to seek opportunities to develop knowledge and skills as it relates to government and public affairs.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: Even though I am from Iowa, a state most people forget exists sometimes, I’ve tried my best to get out of the Midwest and see the rest of the country, and world, when I can. I have gone to Singapore, Japan, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Canada with friends throughout the years for all kinds of activities like hiking, taking in culture, and even bungee jumping! With family I have visited most of the United States, aside from the northeast, which I hope to get to soon.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I hope to gain real, hands-on, experience with government and its inner workings. I would be thrilled to learn about the industries I listed previously, how government interacts with them, how the “behind the scenes” aspects of government operate in cohesion with government affairs, PACs, and lobbyists. Finally, I would like to learn about what roles may be available to me in the industry as I continue to move forward in my career.
Danny Li
Danny is from Petal, Mississippi and is a junior at Yale University studying political science and economics. Academically, he is extremely interested in the interplay between business and policy. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Danny was an International Affairs Intern at Beijing DHH Law Firm where he assisted in country-specific research and other client-facing roles.
At Yale, he is involved in student government, Greek life, club sports, and community outreach. In his free time, he enjoys running, playing the marimba, spending time with friends and family, and scrolling through Twitter.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: My interest in government began when I saw my mom’s journey from an undocumented immigrant to a U.S. citizen. That interest was reinforced in during the 2016 election after realizing the impact of policies on the lives of everyday people. Since coming to college and taking various political science courses—in addition to reading the news daily—it’s clear that active engagement with the political system is extremely important to a functioning democracy.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I love airplanes, and I have a student pilot’s license! During training I once made the US Air Force wait 15 minutes to take off while I was practicing landings.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I hope to gain practical knowledge of how policy and advocacy go hand-in-hand. I also hope to gain a
deeper and wider understanding of various policy issues that will allow me to be an effective advocate for the causes and campaigns I’m passionate about. No matter the exact role though, I hope to be constantly challenged both as a leader and as a team player in order to better myself and inspire those around me. Lastly, I hope to gain mentors and knowledge that will allow me to grow both professionally and personally.
Katie Schwarz
Katie is a recent law school graduate from the University of Tulsa College of Law. She completed her undergraduate education at Texas Christian University where she earned a Bachelor of Combined Science in math & engineering, minor in economics, and a certificate in international studies. She spent six months studying abroad in Auckland, New Zealand where she gained an itch for studying international relations. Katie spent three summers working as a research and policy intern at a small consulting company in Houston. She is currently studying for the Texas Bar Exam and hopes to stay in Houston, where she was born and raised, after results are published. She looks forward to pursuing a career in lobbying, government, or policy, especially focusing on energy and natural resources.
Q: How did you become interested in government and/or public affairs?
A: I worked three summers doing consulting work with energy clients. The work really involved a lot of research on different regulations at the state and federal levels and how those changes would affect our clients. That is where I found that I loved doing government research and summarizing Senate hearings or other public meetings. After a few classes in law school, I knew it was what I wanted to keep pursuing.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I’m a triplet! I’m weirdly attached to my 12 lb. Yorkie, Cooper. He is my emotional support animal and I try to take him just about everywhere with me.
Q: What are you most interested in learning during your internship at Cornerstone?
A: I’m hoping to find my long-term passion. I’ve been searching for a long time to decide where I would like to take my future career, and after law school, I’ve decided that government and policy (especially in the energy space) is where I would like to go.