Anna Lulkin, a Diplomacy student, landed an internship at the White House during the
fall semester of 2024.
Anna Lulkin, a senior at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, spent the fall semester interning at the White House during the final months of
the Biden-Harris administration. Majoring in international relations and minoring
in Italian, Lulkin is deeply passionate about global affairs. As an intern in the
nation’s capital, she put her knowledge and skills to the test.
The Mount Sinai, New York, native applied for internship positions through the White
House’s official website. With guidance and mentorship from her professors, Lulkin
was well-prepared to transition from the classroom to the professional world. A dream
come true, she was accepted into the Executive Office of the President, working within
the Office of Administration’s Personnel Security Division. Lulkin’s commitment to
success is driven by her strong interest in national security studies and her deep
desire to serve her country.
During the semester, she worked in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility,
a secure area designated by the U.S. Department of Defense where no electronic devices
are allowed for security reasons. Lulkin’s responsibilities involved managing several
security platforms to ensure the safety and security of the White House campus. She
provided administrative support to the security team by handling security mailboxes,
processing documentation and addressing employee inquiries on security-related matters.
Additionally, Lulkin assisted in maintaining and preparing sensitive records related
to security investigations and clearance statuses.
White House interns gathered for a portrait outside the Executive Office Building.
One of the highlights of her experience was the weekly speaker series organized by
the White House Internship Program. This networking opportunity allowed Lulkin to
connect with high-profile White House staff and politicians and even meet the president
and the chief of staff. Reflecting on the program, she shared, “Besides the day-to-day
tasks, the White House Internship Program embraces everyone’s unique background. They
care so much that we are all from different backgrounds and want to explore different
fields within political science. It was a great experience.”
Throughout the White House Internship Program, Lulkin completed her credits while
also taking classes at the United Nations Foundation. She credits her semester in
Washington with opening doors to her successful journey, noting that choosing to attend
Seton Hall was pivotal.
“If I had not come here,” Lulkin continued, “I would not have been able to intern
at the White House. Unbelievably amazing. The coursework in the School of Diplomacy
was so important for me going into this internship because it gave me a background
in security. I took global health, bioterrorism, conflict and security and public
international law classes that prepared me for this internship.”
After graduating in May, Lulkin plans to pursue a law degree to further her career
and contribute to her country. With previous internship experience as a congressional
intern for Congressman Lee Zeldin in 2021 and as a judicial intern at the Suffolk
County Courthouse in 2024, she said: “I have now worked in all three branches of government:
legislative, judicial and now executive; and while they all provided me with great
experience and were hands-on, the White House gave me an inside look at our nation’s
government.”
Lulkin’s journey exemplifies the key qualities that define a successful student and
highlights the value of leveraging the opportunities offered at the School of Diplomacy
to the fullest. Her dedication reflects the high standards set by the School of Diplomacy
and underscores the importance of proactive, passionate and driven individuals in
shaping the future of national security and public service.
Categories:
Nation and World