Meet our 2021 Tower Center Internship Recipients!

The following internships offered through the Tower Center support of our mission to promote the study of policy and international affairs and prepare future leaders to make a positive global impact. Learn more about the 2021 recipients below.

The Jack C. and Annette K. Vaughn Foreign Service and International Affairs Internship Recipient Aubrie Yarbrough

Aubrie Yarbrough

Aubrie is a prominent leader on campus who loves to get involved and support her community. Her professional background and experience on the executive board of various organizations speaks for her leadership, communication, organizational skills, and versatility. She is currently double majoring in International Relations and World Languages (Italian, Spanish, and French) and she is triple minoring in Environmental Anthropology, History, and Economics. She focuses on Europe, the United States, and the Middle East and how these regions interact. One of her hobbies is competing in triathlons with Team USA. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree at a prestigious foreign policy school and take the Foreign Service Exam with the goal of becoming a diplomat.

Cole Fontenot

Rubottom Foreign Service Internship Recipient Cole Fontenot

Cole Fontenot is a Junior from Nashville, Tennessee majoring in Philosophy, History, and Economics at SMU. He is involved in a myriad of activities on campus, serving in positions on the Honor Council, Historical Society, Redefining Mental Illness, and works as an RA in one of the residential commons. After graduation, Cole plans on attending law school. Although he is not sure exactly sure what he wants to do yet, Cole has a passion for public service and looks forward to interning in D.C. for the summer to gain more knowledge about working in the public sector. In his free time, Cole enjoys reading, exploring Dallas, and the outdoors.

The Kelli and Gerald J. Ford Internship Recipient Jack Lucas

Jack Lucas

Jack Lucas is an SMU Junior from Des Moines, Iowa double majoring in Political Communication and History with a minor in Law and Legal Reasoning. On campus, Jack serves as the Speaker of SMU’s Student Senate, an RA in Boaz Commons, and as a campus tour guide in the admissions department. Jack has worked in a number of governmental agencies within his home state, such as the State Legislature and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, and he plans to broaden his horizons by working at a federal agency in the summer of 2021. After graduating from SMU, Jack plans to attend law school in the fall of 2022, and hopes to pursue a career in public service.

To learn more about our internships and fellowships, go here.