The document is a letter from a Duke University Ph.D. student applying for a summer internship with The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The student highlights their strong writing, research, and analytical skills developed through their undergraduate and graduate studies in political science, African & African American studies, and a focus on racial attitudes and minority politics. They believe the internship is an ideal opportunity to gain real-world policy experience and contribute to the important work of The Leadership Conference. The student emphasizes their commitment to social justice and advancing research on disenfranchised communities.

1. Duke
Alumni
1217
Northcreek
Drive
|
Durham,
NC
27707
|
(718)
496-­‐0473
|
duke.alumni@alumni.duke.edu
Duke
Contact
Intern
Coordinator
The
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights/Leadership
Conference
Education
Fund
1629
K
Street,
NW,
10th
Floor
Washington,
DC
20006
March
29,
2011
Dear
Ms.
Lighty:
As
a
first-­‐year
Ph.D.
student
in
Political
Science
at
Duke
University,
I
am
writing
to
express
my
sincere
interest
in
a
Summer
2011
internship
with
the
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights
and
the
Leadership
Conference
Education
Fund.
After
speaking
with
several
of
my
professors,
I
determined
that
the
Leadership
Conference
internship
provides
an
ideal
opportunity
for
me
to
work
and
grow
as
I
look
to
gain
real-­‐world
experience
in
the
policy
arena.
The
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights
is
an
important
and
influential
coalition,
and
one
to
which
I
believe
I
can
contribute
my
analytical
skills
and
academic
training.
My
strong
writing
and
research
skills
make
me
well
qualified
to
perform
the
work
and
meet
the
challenges
of
an
internship
with
the
Leadership
Conference.
My
background
in
the
study
of
American
politics
began
during
my
undergraduate
career,
also
at
Duke
University,
where
I
earned
a
B.A.
in
Political
Science
and
African
&
African
American
Studies.
I
conducted
independent
research
on
topics
such
as
racial
attitudes,
political
institutions,
and
policy
outcomes
as
a
Mellon
Mays
Undergraduate
Fellow.
As
a
Ph.D.
student,
I
am
working
toward
certification
in
the
fields
of
Political
Behavior
&
Identities
and
Race,
Ethnicity,
and
Politics.
My
studies
focus
on
civic
discourse
and
the
ways
in
which
beliefs,
attitudes,
and
social
identities
influence
political
decision-­‐making,
as
well
as
the
salience
of
race
in
American
politics.
The
pursuit
of
my
bachelor’s
and
doctoral
degrees
in
these
fields
has
helped
me
to
develop
my
organizational
and
communication
skills,
as
well
as
a
nuanced
understanding
of
political
analysis,
policymaking,
and
a
number
of
key
issues
facing
disenfranchised
communities.
Furthermore,
my
prior
internships
and
involvement
as
a
student
leader
have
provided
me
with
substantial
experience
communicating
and
collaborating
with
people
at
all
levels
and
across
disciplines
within
organizations,
successfully
serving
as
a
member
of
a
team,
and
working
with
diverse
groups
of
people.
My
commitment
to
social
justice
and
advancing
research
in
racial
and
ethnic
minority
politics,
coupled
with
my
demonstrated
skills,
shows
that
I
am
ready
and
motivated
to
gain
experience
at
the
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights
and
the
Leadership
Conference
Education
Fund
this
Summer.
Thank
you
for
considering
my
application.
Sincerely,
Duke
Alumni