Notes from the Field: Annie Phifer '20

Annie Phifer '20 interned with the American Enterprise Institute for the Summer 2017 term. The following is an excerpt from her internship report.

During the summer of 2017, I had the exciting opportunity to intern in the editorials and publications department at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, DC. AEI is a public policy think tank dedicated to free enterprise, open debate, intellectual freedom, and the defense of human dignity. AEI’s scholars produce an outpouring of research on a wide variety of subjects; the editorial department’s job is to maintain AEI’s credibility by ensuring this work meets the highest editorial standards before public release. As an intern in this department, I edited and proofread online publications, reports, event materials, biographies, summaries, blog posts, and other projects. I also meticulously fact checked event materials and researched scholars, experts, and speakers for AEI reports. Most notably, I catalogued over 1300 works by AEI’s scholars to create an internal master publication database that could be accessed online.

Over the course of my internship, I became exceptionally comfortable with AP and Chicago styles, the two style guides AEI uses in its materials, and the nuances preferred by AEI in its publications. I also had the opportunity to discuss topics such as economics, international relations, and education policy at events with AEI’s top scholars therefore exposing me to many different viewpoints and ideas. I also attended a variety of professional development workshops which prepared me to be a young professional in Washington.

My favorite part of my internship involved reading and editing a variety of scholarly works on diverse topics during my internship. My interest in foreign policy has since been piqued, and I hope to study international relations and how specific words exchanged between world leaders can impact foreign affairs. Thus, my time at AEI has steered me toward studying English, creative writing, and government at Dartmouth. Additionally, I am excited to continue AEI’s pursuit of open debate and intellectual freedom as the new chair of AEI’s Executive Council at Dartmouth. Our goal is to encourage greater campus discussion of pressing issues through speaker events, reading groups, and open meetings. This amazing opportunity was made possible through the Rockefeller Center to whom I am very thankful.