Opportunities in our Office

The Governor's Office offers great opportunities to experience firsthand the inner workings of state government. The Office offers a variety of programs for college students, recent graduates, and graduate students. Below you can find out what opportunities are available as well as information on how to apply.

Each application can be downloaded and filled out on a computer. Please e-mail completed applications, transcripts and letters of recommendation to the e-mail address provided on the application.

​The Governor's Office James H. Dunn, Jr. Memorial Fellowship

The Dunn Fellowship Program provides bright, highly motivated college graduates a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the operations of state government for one year.

Dunn Fellows are recruited from public and private colleges and universities throughout the nation. Qualified applicants must have completed a bachelor's or higher graduate degree in the 18 months prior to the program's commencement and must have demonstrated a commitment to excellence through academic honors, leadership ability, extracurricular activities and community/public service involvement. The program begins on the first weekday in August and ends on July 31st of the following year.

The Dunn Fellowship is an opportunity for recent graduates to obtain hands-on experience in state government, while obtaining tools for their future careers.

Dunn Fellows are paid $41,000 annually and receive full state benefits.

Positions in the current 2023-2024 class of Dunn Fellows include:

• Communications (Chicago)
• General Counsel (Chicago)
• Policy (Chicago)
• Governor’s Office of Constituent Affairs (Springfield)
  
• Legislative Affairs (Springfield)
  
• Deputy Governor Sol Flores (Chicago)
  
• Deputy Governor Martin Torres (Chicago)
  
• Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell (Chicago)
• Deputy Governor Andy Manar (Springfield)
• Governor's Office of Management and Budget (Springfield)
  
• Office of Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (Chicago)
  
• External Affairs (Chicago)
  
• Office of Equity (Chicago)
  
• Operations (Chicago)
  

The cities above indicate where each fellow will be based out of.

Michael Curry Summer Internship Program

The Michael Curry Summer Internship Program offers college juniors, seniors, and graduate students in all disciplines (including law) an opportunity to work in one of the agencies under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Governor on a full-time basis for ten (10) weeks during the summer. Positions are available in both Springfield and Chicago. Applications are due April 17th at 11:59PM.

• Eligible applicants must be Illinois residents who have not previously participated in the Curry Internship Program.
• Curry interns will receive a stipend of $2,500 per month.
  

Applicants are asked to choose their top three (3) preferred placements from the following agencies:

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Capitol Development Board
• Illinois Department of Agriculture
  
• Illinois Department of Central Management Services
  
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
  
• Illinois Department of Employment Security
  
• Illinois Department of Human Rights
• Illinois Department of Human Services
• Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology
• Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
  
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  
• Illinois Department of Public Health
  
• Illinois Department of Transportation
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  
• Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
• Illinois State Police
  
  

The application process for the 2023 Michael Curry Summer Internship Program is done completely online. The following documents must be submitted to Gov.CurryInternship@illinois.gov for your application to be considered:

• Completed application—click link below for application form
• Official or unofficial college transcript
• Personal statement (500 words or fewer)
• Policy essay (750 words or fewer)

See application for complete submission instructions:

Internship Opportunities

The internship program within the Governor's Office of Constituent Affairs (GOCA) provides bright, highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to experience the operations of state government firsthand.

Interns connect constituents to crucial state services, while developing an expertise in state government programs and functions. The GOCA office is also responsible for all correspondence output on behalf of the Governor's Office, including official proclamations and letters from the Governor. Interns work closely with GOCA staff members to ensure constituents and document requestors get the services they need. Interns additionally have the opportunity to work on special projects throughout the Governor's Office.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Internships are available for spring, summer, and fall terms. We ask interns to complete 15 weeks for semester internships and 10 weeks for summer. Internship start and end dates are flexible.

This internship is part-time and unpaid. Academic credit may be available dependent on each institution’s criteria. The internship is in the Governor's Springfield office only.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

• Currently working towards a college/university degree or recent college graduate
• Strong reading, writing, and communication skills
• Ability to maintain professional attitude in a high-stress environment

To apply, please fill out our application and send the application along with all requested materials to GOV.GOCAInternship@illinois.gov.

The GOCA Internship Application is available here: GOCA Internship Application
 

The Office of Equity Internship - Office of Governor JB Pritzker

Internship Program Overview
The internship program within the Office of Equity provides bright, highly motivated undergraduate or graduate students (including law students) an opportunity to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in State of Illinois government.

The program trains future DEIA leaders with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in government and obtain tools for public service. Interns are mentored to support DEIA projects in collaboration with the Office of Equity team and will have the chance to develop special DEIA projects and initiatives that leverage their interests and expertise.

Office of Equity Interns are recruited from public and private colleges, universities, and community colleges throughout Illinois. Qualified applicants must be Illinois residents who are currently working toward a college/university degree or certification. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to DEIA principles through community/public service involvement, activism, advocacy, academic study, and/or extracurricular activities. We are particularly interested in self-directed candidates who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative work environment. Because internships are part-time and unpaid, we seek candidates who can receive academic credit or work study funding from your institution.

Intern Roles and Responsibilities

• Assist with planning for the Office’s DEIA focused initiatives and programming
• Attend meetings with government leaders, advocates, and other DEIA stakeholders
• Conduct policy and legislative research
  

Session Dates and Application Deadlines

**Start and end dates are flexible for selected candidates

Application Process
To apply, please submit the following materials to Gov.EquityOffice@illinois.gov

1. Application (below), which must be fully completed and typed.
2. Cover letter that describes why you are the right candidate for the internship
3. Résumé
4. Writing sample
5. College transcript (official or unofficial)
6. Name, title, and contact information for an academic or professional reference (reference must be a supervisor, professor, or mentor; a letter of recommendation is not required)

Contact
For further information or to request an accommodation in the application process, please email Dr. Addie Shrodes (Addie.Shrodes@illinois.gov), Deputy Director of the Office of Equity and have the subject line read: Office of Equity internship.

The Office of Equity Internship Application is available here: The Office of Equity Internship Application