Environmental Progress - Winter 2005

IEPA Participates in Graduate Public Service Internship Program for More than 30 Years

Record number in 2004

The Illinois EPA has been one of the most active state agencies participating in the Graduate Public Service Internship (GPSI) program since its inception in 1974. As a result, this April, Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano will be awarded the GPSI Loyalty Award from the Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield. The award will be in recognition of the Agency's support throughout the history of the GPSI program, and for providing dedicated agency supervisors and mentors.

Located within the Center For State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), the GPSI program is ranked as one of Illinois' premier governmental internship programs. For 30 years this program has provided interns with the opportunity to simultaneously begin a professional career while earning a graduate degree from UIS.

Over the past 10 years, approximately 20 GPSI interns have been placed at the Agency on an annual basis. This particular type of Agency internship (a 21-month experience) allows students to get practical experience working with environmental and related programs. Currently, there are a total of 24 interns working for various Bureaus within the Agency, with educational backgrounds ranging from environmental science and policy to business and public administration.

(Please note: interns' answers are in their own words)

What is the benefit of being in the GPSI program?

"My time in the Peace Corps showed me that there are many things that I can do with my life, and I realized I needed to further my education in order to accomplish those goals. After that I can't just sit idly by. I need to take action and do something. My experience here has been very valuable. I have learned a great deal about how a state regulatory agency works, learning about the different regulations, the day-to-day operations, the politics involved, and the reality of the situation." (Mark Danenhauer, Office of Emergency Response - Health and Safety Unit)

"The GPSI program was a perfect symbiosis of real world working experience with educational support. I am fortunate that my position lets me collaborate on projects with people outside of the agency. Meeting people outside of the agency who are experts in their fields and seeing the enthusiasm they have for the work they do just rubs off on you. It totally keeps me motivated." (Melissa Helphingstine, Bureau of Land - Division of Remediation Management)

"Before going back to school and coming into the GPSI program I did everything from carpentry and archaeology to military service. After 12 years of wandering and wondering I knew that it was time to buckle down and get on with it. My GPSI with the Agency has been a fantastic learning experience, and the fact that I get to provide a service to the public while earning a Master's degree is like icing on the cake." (Kate Brickman, Office of Citizen Response and Publications).

What is the most interesting thing that you have learned since your internship began?

"How to deal with different kinds of people in a work environment." (Omair Haq, Bureau of Air - Annual Emission Reports Database)

"Each agency is made up of people just like you and me, government agencies aren't like the Tom Clancy books- at least not where I sit! Mostly, though, it has been interesting to see how everything starts to come together. Plus, the people you met yesterday are the people who know the person you are going to meet tomorrow!!" (Melissa Helphingstine)

"I learned the work culture in an organizational environment and more over I will get some hands on experience in dealing with database. Every day I learn some thing new, so every day is interesting for me." (Nanda Lanka, Bureau of Air - Vehicle Inspections and Maintenance Division)

What is your favorite part of your job?

"Meeting with the city/village officials that have been awarded grants and helping them get their sites cleaned up for redevelopment." (Hillary Croxton, Bureau of Land - Office of Brownfield Assistance)

How will your experience at IEPA benefit you in the future?

"It will teach me the basic aspects of government regulation. It has also allowed me to gain firsthand experience using GIS software. It will also serve as a good resume builder". (Chad Hickman, Bureau of Air - Air Quality Planning Section)

"I am gaining working experience using ESRI products (ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcMap) and I hope to use this experience as a GIS specialist or analyst in the future. I also have the opportunity to work on the Source Water Assessment Program and understand how it is organized and its purpose. I also am benefited by working with professionals at the IEPA and other state agencies. They help to give me an understanding of how state government works and how they can work together to achieve common goals." (Julia McCarthy, Bureau of Water- Geographic Analysis Sub-Unit)