Cultural Vistas Launches First Year of Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program

WASHINGTON - June 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Cultural Vistas is pleased to announce the inaugural class of the Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program.

The Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program is a summer internship program funded by the U.S. Department of State that provides emerging leaders from Eastern Europe, the Caucuses, and Central Asia with the opportunity to gain real-world experience complementing and enriching their graduate studies in the United States.

Participating host organizations are not only at the forefront of bringing innovative talent to the American workplace, but also play a critical role in fostering mutual understanding. The organizations hosting interns span a variety of fields and industries and include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sony Pictures, Sister Cities International, the United Nations,Newsweek, and the World Bank, among others.

“The Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program is more than just an opportunity to gain practical experience - it is a chance to expand one’s professional network and strengthen regional ties,” says Yelena Khotsevitch, Assistant Program Officer at Cultural Vistas. “These are bright, motivated individuals who are prepared to engage in challenging projects and make a relevant contribution to the global workforce.”

The class of 2015 consists of 40 young leaders, currently in the United States as Foreign Fulbright Graduate Scholars. The program began with an orientation in Washington, D.C. on May 15, 2015. Other components include virtual learning activities, a three-month internship, and a closing seminar in August to allow participants to reconnect.

The closing seminar and other post-program activities provide participants with opportunities to share their work and to continue building their careers. As Andrii Svietlov, International Economics and Finance student at Brandeis University, said, “I hope that from my professional work I will be able to help Ukraine attract more financial resources to help create jobs, better opportunities for people, and also promote prosperity.”

Link to full web release: http://culturalvistas.org/news-and-impact/cultural-vistas...

Learn more about the Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program at culturalvistas.org/muskie.

About the Muskie Program
While 2015 marks the first year featuring its new format and scope, the Muskie Program has established meaningful connections between Americans and nearly 5,000 emerging Eurasian leaders over the last two-plus decades. Named after the late Senator from Maine and preeminent U.S. environmental leader, the original academic program was established by Congress in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union to help ensure that countries in the region continued healthy economic and democratic growth.

About Cultural Vistas

A nonprofit organization, Cultural Vistas annually serves more than 5,000 students, professionals, and emerging leaders through career-focused international internships, educational study tours, language immersion, and cultural exchange programs in the United States and around the world.

Follow @CulturalVistas and #MuskieIntern on Twitter.