Under the iconic rotunda of the Indiana Statehouse, a variety of ideas, philosophies, and personalities come together to shape state policy. In many ways, the environment mirrors the University of Indianapolis, where students from different backgrounds and with different ambitions prepare for meaningful careers. No matter their path, UIndy equips students with the skills and support to succeed.
If you had asked Griffin McGee ’26 (Business Administration & Management) three years ago where he expected to be after graduation, he probably would have pictured himself on the sidelines of a major sporting event—not walking the halls of the Indiana Statehouse.
McGee came to UIndy as a sport management major and a kicker for the football team, with dreams of becoming a sports agent. But as he took his first steps toward that goal, McGee realized sport management might not be the right fit for him after all.
“I made the switch to business administration and management to give myself more flexibility down the road,” explained McGee. “Then, as I continued to develop and take courses, I ultimately realized that I wanted to pursue a career in law.”
So when he was walking through Schwitzer Student Center one day and saw representatives for the internship program with the Indiana General Assembly, he stopped to learn more.
“It was 100% circumstance, and now, it’s half my life,” McGee reflected with a laugh.
The highly competitive program accepts only a limited number of students and recent graduates from across Indiana each year. McGee earned a coveted position with the Indiana House Republican Caucus, crediting his communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure for helping him stand out during the interview process.
McGee served as a legislative intern, assisting State Representatives Ethan Manning of Logansport, Julie Olthoff of Crown Point, and Tim O’Brien of Evansville. During the legislative session, McGee responded to constituent messages, summarized complex bill language, tracked legislation, and more—all while balancing a 17-credit-hour course load. He credits the communication and public speaking skills he developed at UIndy with helping him navigate daily conversations with constituents and state officials alike.
“I went back to skills learned in my public speaking course a million times throughout the internship, whenever I was on the phone with a constituent or meeting with a lobbyist,” said McGee.
Balancing the demands of the internship alongside a full academic schedule was challenging, but McGee said the support of his professors made the experience manageable.
“All of my professors were more than willing to work with me on my coursework and schedule,” said McGee. “They were all supportive, and that was the most beneficial thing in making my internship possible.”
Across the aisle in the House chamber, another Greyhound was gaining hands-on experience in state government.
Sam Hunt ’25 (Political Science) was a legislative intern for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus, assisting State Representatives Chris Campbell of West Lafayette and Sue Errington of Muncie.
Unlike many students entering college for the first time, Hunt came to UIndy with a decade of professional experience at the Marion County Public Health Department, where he spent countless hours helping residents access community resources and listening to their frustrations on local government issues.
After earning his associate’s degree from Ivy Tech Community College, Hunt chose to pursue his bachelor’s degree at UIndy, following in the footsteps of his mother and sister.
“That experience really drummed up my interest in how interconnected everything is, and I wanted to learn more about how the system actually works,” said Hunt.
As a political science major at UIndy, Hunt experienced public policy firsthand through an applied political philosophy course taught by Drs. Greg Shufeldt and Lacey Davidson. Students tracked bills through the legislative process and traveled to the Statehouse monthly to observe committee meetings and meet with legislators. Hunt focused on utility-related legislation, including bills involving the regulation of electricity, water, natural gas, and telecommunications.
“I had no idea about utilities, but no one else in the class seemed to want them, so I picked up three bills and got really familiar with the House’s utility committee,” said Hunt. “It was a really cool experience and I’d credit it for how I ended up earning the internship.”
Hunt also credits the writing-intensive nature of his coursework at UIndy with preparing him for the demands of the internship, where research, policy summaries, and written communication were central to the role.
“Writing was 80% of the job, whether that was responding to constituent emails, summarizing complex bills, or writing up committee notes,” said Hunt. “All of my UIndy courses involved papers and research, so I felt very prepared.”
The internship program includes a speaker series, welcoming state officials, including the Governor, former interns, lobbyists, advocates, and state legislators, to share their experiences with current interns. The connections built through this series gave Hunt the opportunity to connect with current candidates J.D. Ford and Andrea Hunley to learn more about running for office, which is his ultimate goal.
“This internship is a great way to experience for yourself how our government works,” said Hunt.
As the 2026 legislative session came to a close, both McGee and Hunt left the Statehouse with valuable experience and a clearer vision for their futures.
Hunt will continue working with the Indiana House Democratic Caucus as campaign manager for Kimberly Townsend, who is a candidate for House District 36 in the Anderson area.
McGee was hired to continue working with the House Republicans during the interim legislative period before beginning his studies at IU McKinney School of Law this fall.
“I’m excited and nervous,” said McGee. “It’s a big change, but balancing the internship with school and balancing school with football has prepared me for that change.”
Their paths to the Statehouse looked very different, but both McGee and Hunt found the same foundation at UIndy: a supportive community that helped them develop the confidence, experience, and perspective needed to make an impact on millions of Hoosiers.