05/22/2026
What does a grad school internship actually look like?
For Truman Eckler (MA, Global Economic Affairs, ’26), it meant stepping into policy work at the Office of the Governor of Colorado. As a policy researcher, he focused on permitting reform, an issue that shapes how states manage economic growth, environmental regulations, and infrastructure development.
From reviewing legislation to comparing policies across states, Truman’s work was deeply analytical. He explored what works, where systems break down, and how reforms, especially in areas like air pollution permitting, can make government more efficient.
“Teams like this handle way more than you can imagine,” Truman said. “If you’re ever driving and you see a sign that says ‘it’s the law to buckle up,’ that only exists after an operations team does tons of research and planning to justify it."
Beyond research, Truman collaborated across issue areas like healthcare and prison reform, gaining experience working with diverse stakeholders and learning about long-term policy change.
“Korbel’s memo writing class really prepared me for this,” Truman shared, giving a shoutout to Prof. Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, as well as Korbel’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD), which helped him refine application materials and prepare for interviews.
He plans to return to international work now, and Korbel helped him learn that there’s never one path forward. “The opportunities are there," Truman said. "You just have to be ready for them.”
