Amanda Toporek graduated from The Spence School where she was head of Model Congress and an award-winning debater. She served on Student Council for three years including as Vice President her junior year. At Dartmouth, Amanda is intending to major in Government with minors in Environmental Studies and Education. She interned for Senator Charles Schumer through a Rockefeller Center internship funded by the Mr. E. John Rosenwald Jr. ’52 Public Affairs Fund. Through her internship, Amanda gained legislative research, writing, and constituent relations experience and developed a passion for public service reform.

1. Amanda Toporek graduated from The Spence School in New
York, NY. At Spence she was the head of Model Congress and
an award-winning debater. Additionally, she served on
Student Council as a Class Representative for three years and
Vice President her junior year. Amanda also worked as a
Development Intern at Harlem Academy, eventually creating
a lasting tutoring partnership between Spence and Harlem
Academy students. At Dartmouth, Amanda is an intended
Government major and a double minor in Environmental
Studies and Education. She has been a DREAM mentor since
freshman year, and this term, is a co-chair of the program.
Additionally, as a member of the Kappa Delta Epsilon
sorority, she was elected Sustainability Chair this winter.
When not in school, Amanda has spent much time working as a camp counselor at Mohawk
Day Camp (Scarsdale, NY) and Camp Laurel South (Casco, ME).
Amanda was funded by the Rockefeller Center for a Spring 2014 internship, with generous
support from the Mr. E. John Rosenwald Jr. ’52 Public Affairs Internship Fund.
Executive Summary from Amanda’s final report:
I spent the spring working for United States Senator Charles Schumer as a Legislative
Intern. Senator Schumer is the senior senator from New York and has been serving in the
Senate since 1999. He is Chairman of the Rules Committee, and a member of the Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Judiciary Committee.
Within the Judiciary Committee, Senator Schumer is also
the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration. While
these are the only committees he is assigned to, he is on
the Democratic Leadership and places important roles in
many policy issues.
My responsibilities included administrative as well
as substantive legislative work. On a daily basis I answered
constituent calls, sorted constituent mail, and gave
constituent tours of the Capitol building. I also wrote and
[MR. E. JOHN ROSENWALD JR. ’52 PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUND INTERN PROFILE]
“On a personal level, I
found a great appreciation
for and need to reform the
public sector. I now feel
very compelled to work for
a public paycheck upon
graduating.”

2. edited letters to constituents, did legislative research, and wrote memos on briefings and
hearings. In correspondence with constituents, I certainly learned more about the state of New
York and the diverse perspectives within it. I also came to see the diverse set of issues
constituents turn to their representatives for. Many constituents called with personal questions
in addition to broader legislative concerns. I loved giving tours and seeing constituents discover
our Capitol and our nation’s history. I also particularly enjoyed legislative research and delving
deeply into relevant political topics. Attending briefings and hearings was also particularly
informative as I got to learn about a diverse set of topics and stakeholders in government
affairs. Writing memos about these also taught me a new type of extraordinarily concise writing
style.
The skills and perspective I gained from all of these tasks and experiences has certainly
made me more prepared to enter the policy world after I graduate. I’ve learned to write more
effectively and how to quickly and thoroughly research legislative issues. I am so grateful to the
Mr. E. John Rosenwald Jr. ’52 Public Affairs Fund. On a personal level, I found a great
appreciation for and need to reform the public sector. I now feel very compelled to work for a
public paycheck upon graduating.
Amanda Toporek ’16 in front of the capitol building where she interned in Washington, DC.
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