Mackenzie Knight is a senior at Indiana University Bloomington. She is from Westfield, Indiana. She is pursuing an individualized major in Policy and Intelligence Analysis, a double major in Near Eastern Languages and Culture (Arabic), and a minor in Spanish. Mackenzie currently works as an assistant to former Congressman Lee Hamilton and as a student ambassador for the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. In the summer of 2019, Mackenzie interned in London for Shephard Media, a defense intelligence company. She spent the past year as a virtual writing intern for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and worked as a Teaching Assistant for a course on U.S. nuclear policy. After graduation, Mackenzie hopes to pursue graduate studies in the UK, then ultimately a career in intelligence analysis and foreign policy, particularly regarding nuclear weapons.  

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Home Institution: Barnard College/Columbia University

Major: Political Science, Economics minor

“This is a very unique internship program. CNS will ensure that by the time its interns leave they have a strong policy and technical grounding in nonproliferation topics, while also providing the support and opportunity for interns to conduct real and substantive research.”

Home Institution: Brown University
Major: Applied Mathematics

“This internship is valuable for students who have a vested interest in learning about nuclear nonproliferation, and especially how it has affected the US-Russia dynamic since the Cold War.”

Home Institution: Pomona College

Major: International Relations, Politics

“Overall, this internship has been a very fulfilling experience. It has allowed me to develop a nuanced knowledge of the various issues and areas related to WMD proliferation. Not only has it advanced my career, but it has also given me a stronger understanding of what I want to do in the future. The rest of the intern class has been truly remarkable and I feel lucky to learn from and work closely with such prominent experts in the field.”

Home Institution: Middlebury College

Major: International and Global Studies (Latin America)

“What stood out to me most about this internship was how invested the program was in my own learning and education. I learned a great deal about nonproliferation and disarmament issues from a number of different researchers, experts, and even my fellow interns. We also had a lot of freedom in terms of pursuing our own research and making connections to topics of our own interest. Finally, I loved spending the summer in Monterey! It was amazing to get to see the ocean every day.”

Home Institution: Smith College

Major: Italian Studies, International Relations

“This internship provides you with an educational experience that is difficult to receive in another internship; it teaches you not only about the nonproliferation field, but also provides you with the opportunity to research and write. It allowed me to explore my research interests, and encouraged me to pursue new topics that seemed impossible at first!”

Home Institution: Middlebury College

Major: Environmental Studies, Sociology-Anthropology

“The CNS internship was a great opportunity to explore my interests within the field of non-proliferation. Allowing for independent research, the internship enabled me to study environmental justice and sociology within the context of non-proliferation. I was also able to build upon the technical expertise available CNS to map potential population exposure to radiation from past nuclear tests.
The daily lectures provided background and context to complex nuclear issues while also allowing interns to converse with experts in the field. We covered topics ranging from Nuclear Weapon Free Zones to regional issues in the Middle East and South Asia and how they impact nuclear proliferation. I especially enjoyed the new tools workshops where we learned how to geolocate images and use open source intelligence to contribute to our research.”

“Big Nuke Energy” Advocates for Female Voices in Nonproliferation

Home Institution: Bryn Mawr College

Major: Political Science

“CNS was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to explore my own academic interests and interact with a variety of accomplished individuals. My fellow interns are warm and supportive people who inspire me with their curiosity and work ethic. We were able to meet and interact with experts in the field who taught us a great deal and were open to our questions and ideas.
I really enjoyed the freedom of conducting my independent research and the CNS staff trusted and supported me to do so. Because of the program, I not only know more about the nonproliferation and disarmament field, but I also have a better understanding of my own academic interests and career goals. I am grateful that I will take this experience with me in my future career.”

Home Institution: College of William and Mary
Major: Russian & Post-Soviet Studies, Government

“The CNS internship will provide you with an excellent foundational knowledge of all things related to nonproliferation. You will get to learn from many of the most knowledgeable researchers on these topics. The internship also provides many opportunities to work on a variety of different topics, including export controls and sanctions. Furthermore, the network of CNS interns is full of many wonderful, friendly people who will help you in your work and become your friends. I am so grateful for the working relationships I developed with many of my fellow interns.”

“Big Nuke Energy” Advocates for Female Voices in Nonproliferation