Clements Funding Recipient Daniel Jimenez talks about his summer internship at American Foreign Policy Council

Aug 01, 2016

 This summer, the Center funded thirteen students and here is Daniel Jimenez’s story: 

“I am interning at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC.  A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to providing timely information on issues of foreign policy and national security, AFPC contributes a great deal to policymakers and public officials in Washington, foreign delegations to the US, and other non-governmental organizations.  Given their impressive history and caliber of influence here on the Hill, I am excited to be a part of their team.

I work primarily with materials and information concerning Russia and greater Eurasia, where I am able to employ my Russian language skills and specialized expertise daily.  I currently write and provide editorial assistance for AFPC’s in-house bulletin on Russian foreign policy, conduct research into Russian demographic challenges, and compile information for a strategic brief on global nuclear modernization.  During my time here in DC, I have been fortunate enough to attend various congressional subcommittee hearings, and helped staff a conference featuring keynote speaker Volodymyr Groysman, Prime Minister of Ukraine.

This opportunity has given me a great deal of insight into the inner workings of foreign policy decisions, and has exposed me to a new and exciting line of work as a researcher at a think tank.  My experience at AFPC has also given me a more in-depth understanding of Russian foreign policy, and the upcoming strategic challenges we can expect in our bilateral dealings with Moscow.  By far the most challenging experience has been both the nature of researching an increasingly autocratic state like Russia – information is often times buried or unreliable – and the need to constantly stay informed as to current events, inside and outside of Russia.  But working alongside some of Washington’s premier foreign policy analysts has taught me a few tricks of the trade.  Already my time here at AFPC has been invaluable, and I feel my ability to interpret data, conduct research, and understand global trends has markedly improved.”

Daniel is a student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, pursuing a Masters degree in Global Policy Studies. He previously graduated in 2015 from UT-Austin with a Masters degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in History and Russian & East European Studies. 

Photo courtesy of Daniel.