Melyne Garcia took her first trip to Washington, D.C., as a Cal State Fullerton student through the Business Honors Program, where she developed a newfound interest in public policy.
Looking for additional opportunities to explore the public service field, Garcia applied and was selected as CSUF’s 2025 Panetta congressional intern. She returned to the nation’s capital eager to develop her professional skills in government, politics and public policy.
Every year, one student from each California State University campus is selected to participate in a fully funded internship in Washington, D.C., that is hosted by the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. As part of the program, students gain real-world experience working alongside individuals in government and politics.
As an intern in U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman’s office, Garcia attended committee hearings, cataloged constituents’ calls, booked Capitol tours, gathered legislative research and drafted policy memos for professional staff members.
“The internship opened my eyes to the many ways I can contribute to my community. It felt good to provide a warm greeting, listen earnestly to what people wanted to say and know their beliefs were being noticed,” said Garcia, who is pursuing her degree in business administration-accounting.
As an aspiring CPA with an interest in tax policy, she says the Panetta internship allowed her to strengthen her accounting education with hands-on training in public service. Garcia said she chose to study business because she admired her mom’s career in accounting, and she finds joy in mastering a challenging concept after hours of hard work.
“I’ll never forget how happy we all were when I chose to pursue business at Cal State Fullerton. My family and I agreed that it was the perfect fit for me, and it has worked out so well,” said Garcia, who chose CSUF for its robust business program.
Throughout her internship, Garcia collaborated and networked with professional staff members who specialize in different areas of government. She said that building these connections and learning about various fiscal policies opened her eyes to future career possibilities, providing her with a “fresh outlook on her educational journey.”
“This internship showed me that the career paths in accounting go a lot further than I originally thought. I still want to pursue a career as a CPA, but I don’t have to stop there. There are so many more possibilities,” said Garcia. “After this experience, I could see myself getting involved in local government because I believe that’s where I could make an impact.”
Prior to her internship, Garcia gained hands-on business training through the Deloitte Discovery internship program. She worked on real-world client projects that focused on AI integration and mergers and acquisitions, enhancing her technical and professional skills.
“Melyne consistently demonstrates strong critical thinking, curiosity and a genuine care for the people and communities she serves. She brings both competence and heart to everything she does,” said Traci Shoblom, lecturer in marketing, who first met Garcia in her business writing course. “I’m excited to see where her path leads next.”