Published on Show Me Mizzou December 17, 2025
Every summer since 2015, undergraduate students from all majors have immersed themselves in the study of constitutional democracy by living and learning in our nation’s capital. Through the Kinder Scholars D.C. Summer Program, students explore how their academic interests intersect with democratic governance, equipping them to become informed, engaged citizens.
Kylie Schmerbach participated in 2024, spending her summer interning with the Child Welfare League of America, a nonpartisan organization advocating for foster care. “Working just two blocks from the White House was surreal,” Schmerbach said. “Alongside coursework and field trips that deepened my knowledge of beltway politics, I contributed to projects such as planning an advocacy day on Capitol Hill.” She noted that the experience strengthened her commitment to pursuing a career in public policy.
The program is led by Jordan Pellerito, BA ’17, MA ’19, PhD ’25, and she helps place students in meaningful internships across Washington, D.C. Mizzou alumni have hired Kinder Scholars for summer internships in the past. If you’re interested in helping place a student this summer, contact Pellerito at pelleritoj@missouri.edu.
Capitalizing in D.C.
Students participating in the Kinder Scholars D.C. Summer Programs have interned from the Hill to Mount Vernon. Their field trips have taken them across the city and beyond. Here's a snapshot of some of the places and spaces students have occupied during their time in D.C.
Internships
• Capitol Hill with Rep. Sam Graves, BS Ag ’86
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• National Women’s Political Caucus
• John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress
• NASA
• ABC News
Field Trips
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Embassy Row
• Ceder Hill, the home of Frederick Douglass
• Gettysburg National Military Park
• U.S. Naval Academy
• Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
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