Published on May 2, 2025

By Kaleigh Ibarra  

Photos by Meghan Aslin 

Mizzou’s Civic Leaders Internship Program (CLIP), administered by the Office for Community Engaged Learning, supports students in finding and completing internships at various levels of government, from local to national.

CLIP provides resources to help students find internships, including matching them with offices based on their professional goals and political values. In spring 2025, CLIP placed 67 undergraduate students in internships in Jefferson City.

Last fall, CLIP alumni Morgan Corder ’18 and Austin Davis ’18, J.D. ’21 organized and hosted a fundraiser and networking event to support this program that creates lasting connections and sets students up for careers after graduation.  

“We realized there’s a huge network of alumni that, I think all would say, without the program, wouldn’t be where they are today.” Corder said. “CLIP is near and dear to our hearts, and we want to do what we can to support it.” 

Chad Follis ’01, Ed.D. ’15, CLIP director, spoke at the event. 

“CLIP allows students to meet Mizzou’s land grant mission through public service to the citizens of Missouri,” Follis said. “Students grow their professional skills and learn through hands-on experience how their industry is impacted by policy decisions.”  

To participate in CLIP, students must have sophomore standing or 30 credit hours and a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher.

While spring is the most active semester, CLIP places students in government, public service and non-profit internships in all three semesters. Students can also intern at places beyond the state capitol, such as congressional district offices, county and municipal offices, public defenders, housing authorities, and government relations for associations and trade groups. 

Graham McCaulley, director of the Office for Community Engaged Learning, says that CLIP placed 70% more students this spring than last, with 48 in the House, 13 in the Senate, five with non-profit organizations, and one at a local U.S. Senate office.  

“The group was approximately evenly split between male and female students, with about 78% hailing from Missouri hometowns,” McCaulley said. “Represented academic units include A&S, Business, CAFNR, Engineering, Health Sciences, Honors, and Journalism.” 

Alumni and current students say that the proximity of the capital to Columbia is a key draw of this program for Mizzou students. Follis encourages students in all majors to consider the experiences and skills they could gain and transfer to any career. 

Building on the Past, Innovating for the Future 

Corder now works for Senator Eric Schmitt as the Director of Field Operations while Davis is the Deputy General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Public Safety. They both experienced firsthand what doors the program opened for them professionally and recognize so much potential for growth and success. They also see the program as a chance to send student ambassadors to the offices of decision-makers who vote on bills that impact the university. 

“I’m a big believer that if you have Mizzou students down there who are rockstar interns, that really helps Mizzou prove that we have the best students in the state of Missouri right here in Columbia.” Corder said. 

When reflecting on their experiences as students, both agreed CLIP guided them academically and professionally once they graduated. 

Davis had his first CLIP internship as a junior, when he worked for Senator Blunt in D.C. It was there he cultivated his interest and passion for government. After his internship, he went on to work for Husch Blackwell Strategies and then to the Attorney General’s Office. To this day, he keeps in touch with the people he interned with and for. 

“It really helped me kickstart my network and got me on a role with my career, so we both agree that we would not be where we are today without CLIP,” Davis said. “Professionally, it was beneficial, and we want to make sure other students have the same experience and opportunity to do what we did.” 

CLIP was one of the selling points for Corder to attend Mizzou. As a freshman, he applied to intern in Jefferson City for Representative Kathie Conway in his home county in St. Charles. He fell in love with it. 

“I mean, as a freshman in college, to be able to walk around the halls of the state capitol building and go on the floor of the House of Representatives and sit in committee hearings, nobody else really has that experience, and Mizzou was able to provide that for me.” Corder said. 

In attendance at the event were family and friends, other alumni and government officials. They used this opportunity to build the mentorship and networking aspect of CLIP and fundraise to help students receive stipends during their internships, most of which are unpaid. 

Jordon Johnson 

Jordon Johnson, a senior from Arlington Heights, Illinois, studying Constitutional Democracy and Public Administration with minors in law, history and political science, is one student who benefits from CLIP. 

Johnson joined CLIP for the internship credit, which allowed him to meet his courseload requirement and remain a full-time student. He also met other alumni contacts. 

“Being in the program really helped with those connections and networking.” Johnson said. 

CLIP introduced him to an internship with Missouri State Representative Ashley Aune. Later, the program assisted him in finding his internship at the Department of State in D.C. that was fully paid, forty-eight hours per week for 10 weeks, with housing and travel covered. Johnson received 6 credit hours for his internships. 

Maggie Funston

Maggie Funston is a junior from Festus, Missouri, studying political science and constitutional democracy. She is also Speaker of the Senate for the Missouri Students Association.  

She’s always been a vocal and passionate advocate when it comes to politics. For her, CLIP was an opportunity to pursue her craft in Jefferson City with the guidance and support of Mizzou staff and faculty. 

“Everything that happens in politics that actually impacts the day-to-day lives of people almost always happens at the state level,” Funston said. “It’s about your state and local legislators. So, when it comes to making a difference in your community, I think that getting involved in the state legislature or in municipal governments or in local city councils is the best way to do so.” 

Parker Ezell 

Parker Ezell is a junior from Kennett, Missouri, studying political science. CLIP helped him find an internship at the capitol with his state senator. He was recently hired as a government relations assistant for the Missouri Flagship Council by the director who attended the fundraising event. Besides the credit he earned for his internship, the program also provided a lot of accommodations. 

“If I wouldn’t have had CLIP, it would’ve been very stressful,” Ezell said. “I would’ve needed to alter my hours [to attend classes]. I wouldn’t have been there as much and gotten to experience as many connections. I know a lot of other students feel the same way that are in CLIP. So, it helps you academically.” 

Ezell knows there are students who could benefit from the CLIP program and wants them to know it exists. He shared how important it is to spread awareness and raise the funds for students to be able to participate. 

He spoke at the CLIP fundraiser alongside peer Faith Glasgow, and both shared their experiences being in the program. 

Faith Glasgow 

Faith Glasgow is a sophomore from Lee Summit, Missouri studying political science and psychology with a pre-law emphasis and minor in Spanish. 

She enrolled in the program last year as a freshman because she was interested in working at the capitol. After submitting her application and interviewing at the different offices, she secured an internship for State Representative Emily Weber for District 24.  

Glasgow was honored to share her story at the fundraiser with the larger Columbia community. It was a chance to gain more support and talk about how impactful student experiences are. 

“It’s really important that the program has funding,” Glasgow said. “CLIP was my first internship in the political sphere. And for a lot of Mizzou students, it’s also their first political internship opportunity.” 

Is Civic Leaders Internship Program for you?

Mizzou’s CLIP program is your gateway to impactful internships in government and public service. Learn more about CLIP to take the next step in shaping your future.