Meet Abby Cumming-Vukovic

I’m drawn to positions that let me take what I’ve learned about how decisions are made at the federal level and connect it to the local communities that those decisions affect. I have always known that I want to work in policy. For my whole life, I have felt a strong gravitation toward the public sector, especially working with and helping people.  

I was lucky enough to intern at General Dynamics, where I worked with the government relations team. The combination of a close-knit team and engagement on Capitol Hill made it clear that this was exactly the kind of environment where I could perform at my best. In this position, there was significant room for professional growth, mentorship and responsibility for me, which was something I was searching for throughout placement.

My role was to support the government relations team in any way I could. I handled traditional intern responsibilities, such as preparing briefing packets to support lobbying initiatives and conducting policy research, but I also had so many opportunities that felt incredibly special. My favorite parts of the internship included taking notes at a hearing on the Hill, communicating with legislative offices for information or assisting with budget requests. I even got to fly in a private jet! I loved every moment of the experience. 

I learned so much from this experience. I am deeply grateful for the perspective I gained here and for the consistent support I received from the entire office. Honestly, just observing the daily interactions and relationships gave me a clearer picture of what an incredibly successful and collaborative career in government relations can look like. 

The internship I am currently working at is something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. The Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center offers free legal services and advice to state and federal victims of crime throughout Ohio to make sure their constitutional and statutory rights are enforced and protected throughout the criminal justice process. 

At the center, I have seen how the law functions and, more often, how it fails. It’s devastating work. Working directly with victims has made the consequences of policy processes appear right before my eyes. This internship has reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career surrounding advocacy, public service and the law in Washington, D.C. 

My time at General Dynamics allowed me to see how policy and government relations operate at the federal level. I made connections and had some of the best professional experiences of my life. In contrast, my work at the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center has placed me in the direct line of those same systems where the outcomes of policy decisions impact real people in real time. 

Together these experiences have given me a much greater understanding of policy as a whole. I saw how they were made, and now I’m watching how ideas and decisions ultimately affect people. Rather than having these two differing internships pull me in different directions, they’ve deepened my understanding in merging the federal and the state levels of policy. 

I have been admitted into the Master of Public Administration, D.C., program, which will require me to live and work in D.C. during the second year of the program! After completing this degree, I plan to attend law school. 

Abby Cumming-Vukovic is earning her Bachelor of Arts in Public Management, Leadership and Policy, with minors in economics, political science and Spanish. As an undergraduate, her activities have included serving on the John Glenn Civic Leadership Council and being a Morrill Scholar, First Year Experience Peer Leader, Victims’ Rights Ambassador and Undergraduate Student Government Senator for Off-Campus Living and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity member. 

Published on: Apr. 24, 2026