Batten Student Spotlight: Baillie McNitt (BA ’24)

As we near the end of the semester, looking for exciting jobs and internships is top-of-mind for many students. Within the Batten student body, there is a diverse array of career interests and experiences, as many students have held internships relating to the dynamic world of public policy. I sat down with Baillie McNitt (4th year BA) to talk about her internship in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State last summer. She shared some of the invaluable insights she gained into the intricacies of diplomacy and international relations through her work experience. Baillie recounted her day-to-day working alongside seasoned policy experts, while also sharing some wisdom about the internship and job search journey that many students find themselves in currently. Baillie also reflected on the impact that Batten has had on her academic and professional development, shedding light on the school’s success in preparing students for the working world. In addition to graduating this semester, Baillie is also a student leader organizing the “Student Leadership Conference” on March 22-23, with the theme of “Bridging Divides: Leading in a Polarized World.” (Register here.)

Q: What were your main responsibilities at your internship and the projects you got to work on? What did a day in the life look like?

A: I truly got to see something new every day! Each morning I hopped on the Metro and rode from New Carrollton all the way to Foggy Bottom, and then walked to the Harry S. Truman building. I’d usually try to get in early so I could review any tasks I had for the day, and then attend team check-in meetings. My supervisors were incredible about letting me participate in any way they could, so I got to attend meetings with the U.S. Institute of Peace, USAID, and various think tanks. Our office was split into several  teams, all of which worked on projects ranging from empowering civil society to long-term strategic planning. I was fortunate enough to work with all of them, though I spent most of my time with the Democracy, Rights, and Governance team. A few examples of projects I worked on included: designing a tracker for all upcoming sub-Saharan African regional and federal elections through 2026 based on data from Freedom House, working with recent survey data from Afrobarometer to analyze democratic trends, and getting to review dozens of grant proposals. Most days, I’d grab lunch with a few of my co-interns, and try to soak up the sun in the courtyard outside the cafeteria!

Q: What are some highlights from your time working there? Most impactful things you got to work on/people you got to meet?

A: It’s so hard to pick! Some highlights for me included meeting the incredible other interns, who were so accomplished and inspirational. We had several UVA alums in my office (including one from Batten!), so it was always fun hearing about their time on grounds and how UVA prepared them for their current role. One of the biggest highlights of the whole summer was when one of my supervisors invited me to go represent the State Department at a career fair for college freshmen. I had so much fun talking to students about the internship opportunities available to them. Although, when considering the most moving moments of the summer, I’d say it was when I worked on the commemoration event for the 25th anniversary of the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Hearing stories about the incredible resilience shown by the staff, both local and American, that went back in to rebuild continues to stick with me today.

Q: Any advice for Batten students as they begin or continue their internship search?

A: I’ve learned so much through my internship experiences, but I’ll narrow down my response in three parts: 

1. This is going to sound so cliche, but put yourself out there! The limitations that you put on yourself are the first obstacles that you need to overcome. I honestly wasn’t even going to apply for this internship, or for the fellowship that I got to help fund it (shoutout the Duke-Richards National Security Fellowship!!), but I was encouraged to just give it a try. You never know what in your application will make you stand out, so polish that resume and apply for something you may feel completely underprepared for. The reality is, interns are almost always underprepared. That’s the whole point. 
2. Be humble! You do not know everything, and you should get very comfortable with saying “I don’t know the answer to that right now, but I’ll get back to you.” I did at least  two dozen one-on-one interviews with people at the State Department and beyond, and the #1 personality trait that every single person told me contributed to success was humility. You should also know that once you say that you’ll find the answer, people will expect you to follow through. So admit when you don’t know everything, but make sure you find the answer as soon as possible.
3. You do not need to find your perfect internship: focus more on building skills and making connections. I am so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such capable and passionate people at the State Department, but you’ll find that there are amazing teams all over the place. I’m currently experiencing this right now with my job search so this is certainly advice I need to hear as well, but just pick something and make the most of it. Once you do, be curious and learn as much as you can about the organization you’re working for. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent on Diplopedia just looking up various acronyms, but the best compliment I got all summer was when someone would think I was a full-time employee because I could use the jargon. 

Q: What skills and lessons from your time in Batten helped you be successful in your position?

A: Batten does a great job at introducing us to a ton of different ways to write, from memos and white papers to SITREPS. Knowing how to write directly and concisely was invaluable, especially when I was asked to write 10+ page reports and three sentence summaries of my Afrobarometer research for our Bureau-wide email. This may not always seem like a skill, but knowing how to go out and ask for constructive feedback on any products I produced was also a skill I learned from Batten. No one expected me to write a brief perfectly my first time doing it, but not being afraid to ask for help or clarifying questions was something that my supervisors actually mentioned as being an asset. 

Q: How has this position informed what professional pathway you want to pursue after Batten?

A: If anything, my internship made my decision that much harder because it actually opened my eyes to just how many options there are out there. From contractors to CSOs and FSOs to program partners, there are tons of ways to engage with diplomacy. Working on our Sudan/South Sudan portfolios helped reinforce my interest in conflict stabilization and security work, and I was able to connect with several individuals working in this field thanks to my mentors throughout the Duke-Richards Fellowship. 

Q: What are you most excited for in your final year at UVA and in the Batten School?

A: I still can’t get my head around that it’s my last semester. I think I’m most excited to spend as much time as possible with my friends, and keep discovering all that Charlottesville has to offer. 

I am also really excited for the leadership conference we’ve been planning for students interested in policy leadership on March 22-23! This project has brought me so close with a ton of my peers and Batten friends, and has allowed me to work with our amazing staff.