Mr. Hurley Goes to Washington: Politics major Michael Hurley '26 is currently in DC, interning in the office of California Congressman Kevin Mullin—an experience that’s “exciting, awe-inspiring, nerve-wracking, but it’s really rewarding.” / Photo courtesy Michael Hurley
Panetta Intern Michael Hurley ’26 Is Getting Out of the Classroom—and into a Congressional Office
Each year, students from Saint Mary’s and a number of colleges throughout California take part in a semester-long, fully-funded internship in the U.S. House of Representatives. This year, Politics major Michael Hurley is our Gael in Washington, DC.
Michael Hurley ’26 has had his sights set on the Panetta Institute’s Congressional Internship Program from the day he arrived on campus.
Established in 1997 by Leon Panetta—the long-serving California congressman who went on to become director of the Office of Management and Budget, chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, CIA director, and secretary of state—the semester-long program allows a select group of students to serve as interns for members of the House of Representatives. Each year, university presidents from 25 California campuses, including Saint Mary’s College, nominate one upperclass student to take part.
Hurley first learned of the opportunity when he was moving into De La Salle Hall. He and his parents were unpacking boxes when the hall’s resident director, Philip Goodwin ’16, stopped by to introduce himself. When he heard Hurley was a Politics major, he lit up. “You should know about the Panetta internship!” Goodwin told him.
Goodwin studied Politics himself—and was the first Saint Mary’s student to take part in the Panetta program back in 2014. Hurley had never heard of Secretary Panetta, but his parents had. They were immediately thrilled. “My mom was like, Oh my gosh, you have to look into this,” Hurley recalls. “So from day one, pretty much, I had my eye on this opportunity.”
Now, three years later, dreams have become reality: Following an intensive application process, Hurley was selected as Saint Mary’s representative for this year’s Panetta Congressional Internship. He’s currently in Washington, DC, part of a cohort of 20 students from 18 California State Universities as well as Santa Clara University and Dominican University.
From September until mid-November, he will intern in the office of California Congressman Kevin Mullin. No need for Hurley to juggle a full courseload, either; for Saint Mary’s students, the internship counts as a semester’s worth of Politics classes.
Living and working in Washington has been “exciting, awe-inspiring, nerve-wracking, but it’s really rewarding,” Hurley says. “I've already grown and learned so much in my relatively short time being here.”
Seaside, the Capital, and SMC
Before arriving in DC, Hurley and his cohort spent the first two weeks of their program at California State University Monterey Bay, where the Panetta Institute for Public Policy is based. From July 28 to August 10, the students took part in orientation courses taught by “really heavy-hitter speakers,” Hurley says.
He’s not exaggerating; this year’s lineup included Chris Christie, former Governor of New Jersey; Dorian Daley, the executive vice president at Oracle; and Dan Quayle, 44th vice president of the United States. Those initial weeks were “truly amazing,” Hurley says.
Toward the end of orientation, Hurley interviewed for and was assigned to Kevin Mullin, who represents California’s 15th district, encompassing much of the San Francisco peninsula. In DC, Hurley spends his days communicating with constituents and seeking out bills to recommend to Mullin. In time, he says, “there might be opportunities for me to even draft my own legislation.”
“This whole opportunity is so indicative of the SMC experience... The small, close-knit nature of the campus community allows for students to really take advantage.”
It’s too soon for Hurley to say if he intends to return to Washington after college or pursue a career in politics. But unquestionably the Panetta Internship has expanded his horizons. “It’s given me more perspective on what government is, how it functions, what’s available, and what actually works.”
One thing Hurley can also say for certain: “This whole opportunity is so indicative of the SMC experience.” He felt supported throughout the application process, especially by Philip Goodwin, whom Hurley has worked with as a Student Assistant in the Office of Alumni Engagement. Even interviewing with interim President Brother Thomas Jones, FSC, was not as nerve-wracking as it could have been elsewhere. “I already knew him!” Hurley says. “I’d seen him at Mass and around the campus.”
It’s really a testament to the unique culture of Saint Mary’s, Hurley continues. “There are so many hands-on opportunities available here at Saint Mary's. The small, close-knit nature of the campus community allows for students to really take advantage.”
For Politics students like Hurley, it doesn’t get more hands-on than this.
