Lindsay Wagner, ’25, shares her transformative summer with the Department of Transportation and the Fund for American Studies.

Lindsay Wagner, ’25, a senior majoring in political science with minors in economics, sociology, and leadership and global understanding, spent summer of 2024 interning at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration in Washington, D.C.

“We had internships during the day, and then for two days a week, we had classes in the evening at George Mason University in Virginia. Then we had speaker events after class,” Wagner, who was a participant in The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) program, explained. “They definitely kept us busy.”

Despite the challenging workload, Wagner found the experience immensely rewarding, and knows that her courses in the Political Science and Economics Departments were keys to her success.

Wagner supported the office’s daily operations and applied what she had learned in her La Salle courses. She credits the mentorship of professors including Mark Thomas, Ph.D., and Fred Foley, Jr., Ph.D., for shaping her understanding and confidence in public policy and government work.

“La Salle really set me apart from many of the other students, who were from all over the world,” Wagner noted. “I felt like I could stand out because of the knowledge and experiences I gained during my time at La Salle.”

The most impactful moment for her was the opportunity to interact with high-profile political figures, such as shaking hands with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

After the internship, Wagner is now considering a career in public service or local government, which is different from what she imagined prior to her internship.

“Being in those rooms and contributing meaningfully gave me the reassurance that I picked the right school, and that this major is truly where I belong,” Wagner reflected.

—Rafiga Imanova, MBA ’25