Lilian Jochmann ‘26
This summer, Tocqueville Fellow and rising senior Lilian Jochmann is interning at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, where she works with CanaVox—a project of the institute focused on fostering discussions around the topics of marriage, relationships, and sexuality and promoting a “natural law view” of those topics. “It’s a really beautiful movement,” Lilian reflected, “because it invites people into deep, thoughtful conversations—whether they’re married, single, in high school, or in college.”
A constitutional studies minor, Lilian has immersed herself in civic thought and discussion throughout her time at Notre Dame. Her on campus involvement includes serving as a deputy peer advocate through the university’s Judicial Council (charged with overseeing ethics among student leaders), a member of Students for Child-Oriented Policy, and a Sorin Fellow for the deNicola Center for Ethics and Culture. Additionally, Lilian is a Tocqueville Fellow, student intern, and research assistant for the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. She views her work as directly related to her experience as an intern this summer, “Both Witherspoon and the CCCG believe in respectful, truth-seeking dialogue across differences,” she noted. “They each operate with the assumption that you can be firm in your beliefs and still speak with charity.”
Lilian’s day-to-day work focuses on CanaVox’s educational materials, which include reading group curricula and a video library. Lillian’s tasks include writing leader guides for these reading group curricula, developing discussion questions, translating materials into Portuguese, and researching schools to reach out to for CanaVox’s “junior varsity” reading group programs, aimed at middle and high school students. She has also helped revamp their introductory slides and edits content for the website. Overall, she says that her work has furthered her appreciation of careful discussion of difficult subjects: “I’ve learned that facilitating conversations for others forces you to think more clearly yourself. I’m realizing how important it is to be concise and firm—how to speak the truth in love.”
Lilian discovered the internship after a visit to Princeton’s James Madison Program, where she met Professor Robert George, who introduced her to Witherspoon, which he had helped found in 2003. Now, as she looks ahead to law school and a possible career as a federal judge, this summer is giving her a new perspective. “I’ve always thought about law,” she closed, “but now I’m also thinking seriously about working in the nonprofit or academic world—especially in areas like marriage or academic freedom.”
Rocco Giannotti ‘26
Rocco Giannotti, a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame, is no stranger to engaging deeply with questions lying at the intersection of politics, faith, and public life. A political science and classics double-major with a theology minor and a resident of Keenan Hall, Giannotti is actively involved across campus—in student government’s Department of Faith and First Undergraduate Experience in Leadership program for freshmen—as well as at the Robinson Community Learning Center as a volunteer tutor. His intellectual pursuits have been further enriched through his experience as a Tocqueville Fellow and student intern with the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government.
Through a connection made possible by the CCCG, Rocco pursued an opportunity to intern at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, D.C. He was especially drawn to the work of Jonah Goldberg—a respected conservative journalist, author, and political commentator known for his commitment to principled public discourse. Having previously interned in the legal field, Rocco sought to broaden his experience by stepping into the world of conservative media, aiming to develop both his analytical and communication skills in a new, dynamic setting.
From editing podcast episodes and pulling book quotes for scholars to redesigning website pages and contributing news clippings for The Dispatch Podcast, Rocco has immersed himself in the inner workings of intellectual journalism. Rocco reflected that the highlight of his time at AEI has been conducting original research for an article he is preparing for publication. “Seeing how the process works—from start to finish—has been incredibly rewarding,” he noted.
The placement has also been a powerful complement to his experience in the Tocqueville Fellowship, which emphasizes civil discourse and engagement with diverse viewpoints. “The fellowship taught me how to have meaningful dialogue with people who think differently than I do,” Rocco explained. “Being at AEI has shown me how that kind of dialogue plays out in the public square.” Exposure to leading public intellectuals, both at Notre Dame and in D.C., has bolstered his confidence in articulating ideas clearly and respectfully—a skill he sees as crucial to a healthy civic life.
Professionally, the internship has sharpened both his “soft” and “hard” skills. His research and writing are growing more precise, and he’s developing an eye for detail in editing and digital content. At the same time, working in a high-level media setting is deepening his appreciation for the behind-the-scenes labor that goes into thoughtful communication: “It’s made me more attentive and deliberate in how I approach information and dialogue.”
Looking ahead, Rocco is discerning a career in law, possibly in the area of antitrust, with a central question guiding his ambitions: “How can I serve others through what I do?” His summer at AEI has helped clarify that vision by showing how good ideas—well researched, well argued, and well communicated—can shape public life for the better. As he put it, “The CCCG is deeply committed to the pursuit of capital-T Truth. That’s something I want to carry with me into whatever path I follow.”
Molly Griffith ‘26
This summer, Molly Griffith, a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame, is gaining firsthand experience in public policy research and development through an internship with the Aspen Economic Strategy Group (AESG), a program within the Aspen Institute. A political science and economics double-major with a minor in constitutional studies, Molly brings a strong interdisciplinary background to her work at this prominent Washington, D.C.–based think tank, which convenes leading academics, policymakers, and industry professionals to promote evidence-based economic policy.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio and a resident of Breen-Phillips Hall, Molly’s academic engagement is complemented by her leadership on campus. She serves as an editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Political Science, development coordinator for Camp Kesem, a member of the club field hockey team, and a Poverty Research Fellow at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). Her intellectual interests center on the role of economic policy in addressing poverty and structural inequality.
Molly was drawn to AESG through Notre Dame’s Kellogg International Scholars Program, where a conversation with alumnus Luke Purdue—now Policy Director at AESG—led to an opportunity to join the team. “I was excited to find an environment that brings together economic research and real-world policy application,” she said. “It’s a place where ideas are rigorously tested and then translated into actionable proposals.”
Her work at AESG spans a variety of responsibilities: preparing data visualizations, supporting the drafting of the group’s annual policy volume, and assembling background materials for AESG’s annual conference in Aspen, Colorado. Notably, she has contributed to research related to a recent legislative proposal to expand the Child Tax Credit and reduce marriage penalties in the tax code—an issue that aligns closely with her interests in poverty alleviation.
Molly emphasizes the professional development she has experienced in the role, particularly through high-level networking and engagement with scholars and public officials. “Whether at a happy hour with Federal Reserve economists or in day-to-day meetings, I’ve learned how to ask good questions, listen well, and remain intellectually humble,” she noted.
Though her constitutional studies coursework has focused largely on legal theory and American political development, she sees deep resonance between the center’s emphasis on civic dialogue and AESG’s model of deliberation: “The Aspen Institute’s commitment to closed-door, civil, bipartisan discourse echoes the Tocqueville Fellowship’s formation in the habits of healthy democratic engagement. Especially in our polarized moment, it is heartening to witness substantive conversations among individuals with differing views who are united by a shared concern for the common good.”
Looking ahead, Molly remains open to multiple postgraduate paths, including law school or graduate study in economics. Whatever direction she chooses, she is committed to a vocation in public service, particularly through policy research aimed at addressing poverty: “This summer has affirmed for me that public service, rooted in intellectual rigor and dialogue, is not only possible but deeply worthwhile.”
Madeline Hutson ‘28
This summer, Maddy Hutson, a rising sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, is working at the heart of American policymaking. A double-major in political science and global affairs with minors in constitutional studies and philosophy, politics, and economics, she is serving as a legislative intern with the Roosevelt Group, a bipartisan government relations and policy consulting firm specializing in defense, homeland security, and veterans affairs.
From Manlius, New York and a resident of Pasquerilla East Hall, Maddy is deeply engaged on campus through student government (Judicial Council, Class Council, and Executive Cabinet), the Student Policy Network, and the Political Science Society. Her academic formation and leadership roles have prepared her well for the fast-paced, high-stakes world of policy advocacy in Washington, D.C.
At the Roosevelt Group, Maddy conducts legislative research, drafts memos, summarizes congressional hearings, and assists in preparing client materials. One of her major projects involves advising a defense manufacturing client seeking to establish a new production plant in the U.S. Her research looks into economic incentives, legal regulations, and environmental considerations across different states, and she is helping to organize meetings between stakeholders and state leaders.
Maddy’s work has sharpened a range of technical and soft skills—from data analysis and briefing preparation to writing policy memos and engaging professionally with policymakers. “This internship has shown me how public policy actually takes shape—from committee markups to agency collaboration,” she reflected. Her background in constitutional studies has enriched her appreciation of the dynamic between the branches of government, especially the interaction between Congress, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies.
Growing up in a military family—both of her parents are Air Force officers and her brother is in ROTC—Hutson developed a strong commitment to national service. Though she has considered joining the military herself, she sees her vocation unfolding through a career in legal and policy work: “Working at the intersection of law, defense, and public service feels like the right fit.”
As she looks ahead to law school and a potential career in military law, Hutson sees her summer experience as foundational. “Understanding how policy, law, and national defense converge has been invaluable,” she noted. “It’s made me more confident, more discerning, and more committed to serving the common good.”