WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) thanked Las Cruces native Irene Fernald for her work as an intern in his Washington, D.C., office this summer. During her tenure working virtually with Udall’s D.C. office, Fernald worked closely with the legislative team.
“U.S. Senate interns gain invaluable experience as they learn to navigate our nation’s legislative process. I applaud all of our interns who, despite having an unconventional, ‘virtual’ internship due to the global pandemic, found many ways to contribute to my office,” said Udall. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Irene this summer, and I hope she finds her experiences during this internship rewarding as she continues studying International and Global Studies at Middlebury College.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to intern with Senator Udall’s office. I learned about the legislative process through meetings with stakeholders, committee hearings, and researching bills. My favorite part of the internship was helping respond to constituents’ letters because it showed that the office is dedicated to listening to New Mexicans,” Fernald said. “It was inspiring to hear the staff's honesty about difficulties they faced in adapting to the change in work environment during the pandemic. I admire the office’s decision to operate remotely and think it set a good example. Senator Udall and his staff openly answered our questions and shared their wisdom and experiences. It was exciting to work alongside them and the other interns. Thank you!”
Irene is the daughter of Alexander and Katherine Fernald and is a graduate of Las Cruces High School. She is a rising senior at Middlebury College where she is studying International and Global Studies with a focus on Russian and Eastern European Studies. She is also working towards a minor in Environmental Studies. Outside the classroom, she is involved in swimming, water polo, pep band and orchestra (trombone), carillon, and is an active community volunteer.
