CYSE 368

Cybersecurity Internship

This internship was completed at the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), a national political organization based in Washington, D.C. Over the course of 150 hours (3 credit hours), I contributed to the organization’s technology and data operations, supporting staff through coding projects and data-related work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Course Material

Internship Materials

The following materials document my experience at the Democratic Governors Association. Each item is included to give an outside audience a clear picture of what I did, what I learned, and how I was evaluated throughout my 150-hour placement.

Internship Journals

A record of my activities, tasks, and observations logged across my time at the DGA. The three journals below capture my progression throughout the internship, from early orientation to more independent contributions in coding and data work.

 

Research/Summary Paper

A written reflection and analysis connecting my hands-on experience at the DGA to broader concepts in cybersecurity, data management, and political technology.

Internship Final Paper.

Then provide on this page a reflection, responding to the questions below regarding your internship experience.

Applying Course Knowledge

  • My ODU coursework in Python, data structures, and cybersecurity gave me a foundation I could apply from day one at the DGA. Concepts like secure coding and responsible data handling weren’t abstract anymore — they were expectations in a real organization dealing with sensitive political information. Building an offline application without network-level protections made me understand that cybersecurity is a mindset built into every decision, not a layer added at the end.

    Skill Development

  • I built and deployed real tools — data cleaning scripts, a web scraper, and an offline application that outperformed the one it replaced. I also learned to read and modify existing codebases, manage software dependencies across shared environments, and juggle multiple projects at once. Beyond the technical, I developed time management, remote communication, and the ability to work through open-ended problems without step-by-step guidance. Personal Development

  • Personal Development

    This internship changed how I see my career path. I went in focused on the private tech sector and left genuinely interested in public sector and civic tech roles. The DGA’s management style — flat, collaborative, and trust-based — showed me what a healthy professional environment looks like. Being pushed to find my own solutions rather than be handed answers was uncomfortable at first, but it was where most of my growth happened.