8:04 a.m., Sept. 24, 2009----Matthew Nelson, student coordinator of the approximately 200 Blue Hen Ambassadors who welcome prospective students and their families to the University of Delaware campus, is focused on public service. A senior majoring in political science with minors in history and legal studies, he has had two unusual opportunities to practice public service and apply what he has learned in the classroom and through his campus job to government internships.

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During his sophomore year, Nelson had an internship in former President George W. Bush's White House in communications under the late Tony Snow, who was press secretary at the time. Last summer he crossed the aisle to work for Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein of California.

Tony Snow was a gracious and friendly man, Nelson said, and at the White House, Nelson learned how communications operations worked. He was involved in citizens' correspondence -- reading letters, proofreading and spending time on the “comment line” interacting with those who called the White House. He listened to policy discussions and learned firsthand how the separation of powers worked.

“Immigration reform was the big topic when I worked in the White House,” Nelson said, “and I saw American government at work -- citizens voicing their opinions and thoughts without fear of repercussions.”

Another interesting part of the internship was behind-the-scenes trips to different government agencies, such as the CIA headquarters, Nelson said.

While an intern at the White House, Nelson received a James R. Soles citizenship fellowship for public service from UD's Department of Political Science and International Relations, which supported him during the internship.

Feinstein referred to Nelson as her “East Coast boy” because all the other interns were from California, he said. When he applied for the internship with the Republican White House experience in his background, Nelson told Feinstein that he would work his hardest at whatever tasks he had with no personal bias.

Health care reform and energy were the big issues while working in Feinstein's office, Nelson said, and he carried out research on both topics. He worked on the size, budget and number of patients covered by the public health sector in California. His other research centered on alternate air circulation systems for commercial aircraft.

“I was given more responsibility and worked against deadlines, and I was proud when my charts and research were used in the senator's presentations,” Nelson said. He added that Feinstein was a hard worker and always busy.

“I love UD,” Nelson said. “I learned so much from my professors about giving back to society. From working with the Blue Hens Ambassadors, I learned a variety of skills as time management, patience (a biggy he said) and delegating responsibility.”

Nelson is from Baltimore but lived in Delaware for a few years and graduated from Tatnall School. His future plans include the LSATs and applications to law school.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson