Katie Toral

Academic Spotlight
Katie wearing a blue shirt and black knee length skirt, in front of the state capital building.

HUMBOLDT STATE GRADUATE INTERNS AT THE STATE CAPITOL 

“Overall, I feel like the JEDE internship not only helped me gain invaluable analytical work experience but also provided me with the confidence 
I needed to launch my career search.”
- Katie Toral, Economics Major
INTERNSHIP: Economics Summer Intern at the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (JEDE) in Sacramento, CA

Working for the Government:

During Katie’s internship, she was responsible for tracking Assembly and Senate bills related to the policy area of the State Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy. In addition, she worked to keep the JEDE’s Fast Fact documents updated, she researched and proofread content to be included in committee bill analyses, engaged with economic development stakeholder groups, and prepped the committee for hearings. She also had the opportunity to attend professional development courses at the Capitol Institute.

Seeking an Opportunity:

Katie learned about her internship when she received an email from the Chair of the Department of Economics, urging her to apply. At the time, Katie was working as the Social Media Specialist for the Economics Department. She sought help from the Academic and Career Advising Center to make her application as strong as possible. “The internship provided me with a professional platform to use the research and analytical skills I had gained from Humboldt economics and statistics courses.”

Gaining Experience and Confidence:

Katie got to work closely with the assembly committee’s consultant, Toni Symonds. She pushed Katie to reach out to organizations and allowed her to become familiar with the concept of networking and exploring opportunities that emphasize sustainability, a cause close to  Katie’s heart. She gained experience in time management while balancing multiple projects.

Katie’s Advice for Others:

“I advise those looking for an internship, job, or volunteer experience to ask around their network. This may include parents, friends, or professors. You never know where opportunity can stem from.”