For years, AFSA has partnered with the Thursday Luncheon Group (TLG) to support a deserving minority college student for a summer internship at the Department of State. Both organizations provide a stipend for the student for living expenses and other costs. TLG is an important organization whose mission is to increase the participation of African Americans and other minorities in the formulation, articulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. The TLG president is Recardo Gibson, who is the main point of contact for this internship program. All inquiries should be directed to him. (The internship application form for the U.S. Department of State’s unpaid internships program can be found at careers.state.gov.  All candidates for summer internships should check the careers.state.gov website mid-September for announcements and submit applications prior to November 1 of each year.)

In 2014, AFSA began partnering with the Hispanic Employees Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA) to sponsor a Hispanic-American college student for a summer internship at the Department of State. The primary contact for this internship is HECFAA; please email them here. This internship also comes with a stipend provided by both organizations. AFSA began a new partnership with the Asian Americans in Foreign Affairs Association (AAFAA) in 2018. The AFSA liaison for all programs is  Allan Saunders, Manager of Outreach and Internal Communications.

AFSA is very interested is supporting further internship opportunities for minority students across the foreign affairs agencies and we welcome interest from groups who wish to sponsor such a student for a welcoming, rewarding, and career-enhancing placement here in Washington. The TLG, AAFAA and HECFAA internships are run under the auspices of the Fund for American Diplomacy, AFSA's 501(c)(3) charitable arm.

(The photo shows 2013 AFSA/TLG intern Leah Castleberry (far right) attending the Thursday Luncheon Group's 40th Anniversary Gala event. Also pictured are Mr. John W. Franklin, Smithsonian Institute and Ms. Ruth Walker, U.S. Department of State.)

Previous TLG Interns

• 2019 Jasmine McClam
• 2018 Clarke Jackson
• 2017 Rachel Favors
• 2016 Camille Swinson
• 2015 Candace Johnson
• 2014 Jayson Douglas
• 2013 Leah Castleberry
• 2012 Angela Addae
• 2011 Matthew Thompkins
• 2010 Nkechi Ekwunife
• 2009 Miai "Velyn" Sheets
• 2008 David Law
• 2006 Stacy Session
• 2005 Stacy Session
• 2004 Darius Graham
• 2003 Jennifer Tuck
• 2002 Kimerie Green
• 2001 Sarita Jackson
• 2000 Christopher Elders
• 1999 Shameka Johnson
• 1998 Calvin Christopher
• 1997 Danielle Ishem
• 1996 Stacy Williams, Keisha Jackson
• 1995 Reginald Shaver, Christine Lee, Keisha Sellers
• 1994 Keisha Jackson, Yaa Apori, Lynda Kim
• 1993 Tejal Shah
• 1992 Russell A. Jones

Previous HECFAA Interns

• 2019 Isamar Vaquero
• 2016 Carolina Abraham
• 2016 Mauricio Cortes
• 2015 Gabriela Cardozo