GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College senior Brooke Griffith ’26 is spending the spring semester in Washington, D.C., gaining hands-on experience in public safety policy through the Lutheran College Washington Semester program.
Griffith, a 2022 graduate of Karns City High School in Chicora, Pennsylvania, began her internship on January 20 and will complete the program on April 24 before returning to campus for senior week and graduation.
The Lutheran College Washington Semester program places students from Lutheran-affiliated colleges in internships and academic experiences in the nation’s capital. Through this, Griffith is interning with the D.C. Highway Safety Office as part of the Government of the District of Columbia.
In her role, Griffith supports the office’s United We Go initiative and the Vision Zero team by reviewing traffic crash data, evaluating the effectiveness of safety education programming, and assessing research proposals related to roadway safety and community impact.
She recently presented at the D.C. Safe Communities Coalition meeting, where she engaged with public safety professionals and community stakeholders working to improve traffic safety outcomes throughout the District.
“The opportunity to present at the coalition meeting allowed me to connect directly with professionals and community members dedicated to improving roadway safety,” Griffith said. “Experiences like this have helped me see how research, policy, and community engagement come together to create safer communities.”
In addition to policy research and analysis, Griffith’s internship includes significant community outreach. She assists with local events and initiatives that bring together residents and public safety advocates, giving her firsthand insight into how transportation and safety policies affect communities on a daily basis.
“This hands-on engagement has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my experience,” Griffith said.
Griffith plans to attend law school after graduation and has already received several competitive scholarship offers. She was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship from Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and the S. Tubbs Jones Public Interest Scholarship from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, both covering full tuition. She also received partial scholarship offers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America.
The Semester in Washington is a supervised internship and seminar program open to students in all majors. It is conducted by the Lutheran Colleges’ Washington Consortium. In the fall or spring semester, students participate in a supervised internship and take two seminar courses. A special supervised internship program is also available in the summer. Internships may be in governmental, public service or private sector settings. Students with interests in art and theater, social services, journalism and the humanities are particularly encouraged to participate. Field trips, interviews and attendance at various Washington area events are integral parts of the program.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.