The U.S. Department of State celebrated the tenth anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP) on August 15-16, 2024, with a reception and alumni conference focused on the internship program at the George C. Marshall Conference Center hosted by Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent Marcia S. Bernicat. Established in 2014, USFSIP is a selective merit-based internship opportunity for U.S. students demonstrating financial need to complete two consecutive paid summer internships with the Department of State in Washington, DC and at U.S. diplomatic missions abroad.
Each year, 35 students are selected from approximately 800-1,600 applicants for the program. There are now 216 alumni of the USFSIP program. According to Director General Marcia S. Bernicat, 29% of USFSIP interns have returned to the Department of State for employment. USFSIP participants hail from 41 states and the District of Columbia and represent over 80 colleges and universities. Programs like USFSIP are fundamental to building a Foreign Service that looks like America and foreign policies that serve the American people.
