Q: Tell us about your internships.
Fuglestad: I first applied for the Bureau of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs because I speak Chinese and China is my main interest. I
was placed in the Office of Public Diplomacy. I didn't know much about
public diplomacy or about communications; I was just happy to be there.
But later, I figured out that I loved public diplomacy. I love working
at the State Department. I like the government's mission, through public
diplomacy, of promoting and making people more knowledgeable about U.S.
foreign policy. And that has grown to be my focus area. Since then,
I've held three other internships at the State Department, all of which
focused​, in one way or another, on communications and public diplomacy.
Q: What were some of your most rewarding experiences at your internships and what did you learn from them?
Fuglestad: During my first internship, I was able to help with
a lot of the State Department's efforts in promoting our values and
U.S. foreign policy in East Asia and the Pacific. I learned a lot more
about East Asia beyond just China, which was really exciting. This past
summer, I interned in what's called the Global Engagement Center at the
State Department, which is the State Department’s center for counte​ring
foreign propaganda and disinformation. It was a new side of
communications and public diplomacy that I had not seen before. I was in
the China Division and I spent the summer analyzing Chinese propaganda
and disinformation. One of the reports I got to help with analyzed, in
detail, China's attempts to cover up genocide in Xinjiang. The report
included very specific information about Chinese efforts to do a
widespread disinformation campaign to deny culpability. That was really
exciting because you could immediately see the real-world impacts of our
work. Then I was an intern in the Office of China Coordination with the
Strategic Communications Unit, so I got to continue my previous work
and help to make sure the State Department, well, really the whole U.S.
government, has a united voice on what our policy is on China. I also
help track actions taken by the Chinese government in the United States.
So over time, I’ve gotten to narrow my focus at the State Department,
which has been really rewarding. I’ve also benefited from meeting many
people who have helped me understand the different career opportunities
in international relations.
Q: What advice about internships would you share with other students?
Fuglestad: Don’t be afraid to apply for opportunities, even if
you think you are underqualified. I was definitely underqualified for
my first State Department internship, but on my application I showed
that I was really passionate and that I was able to apply skil​ls that I
had learned, either in class or in volunteer opportunities, and be able
to excel.
Q: What do you see yourself doing next?
Fuglestad: I am hoping to work for the State Department. My
ultimate goal is to join the Foreign Service and work abroad. I'm
thankful that through my internships I've made a lot of contacts with
people at the State Department who are so nice and so willing to give me
advice and help me along the way. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.​​
