Resilience, Reflection, and Relationship-Building: Key Focus of Government Shutdown Series
Thursday, December 12, 2025
 
In response to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, Archer Center faculty and staff came together to develop a series of programs to ensure that furloughed Archer Fellows remained supported, connected, and engaged.

This semester, more than half of the fall 2025 cohort interned on Capitol Hill or in federal agencies. Of those students, 11 were allowed to work on alternative research projects or remain in their positions during the government shutdown. For the other 16 students, most of whom served in offices within the U.S. House of Representatives, the shutdown resulted in an abrupt halt to their internship experience.

“Students lost not only their day-to-day structure, but a key part of what makes the D.C. semester so meaningful,” said Sally Lawrence, associate director for professional development and employer relations.

To address these issues, the Archer Center launched the Government Shutdown Series, programming designed to provide growth opportunities during the furlough period. The series focused on maintaining students’ sense of purpose while encouraging professional and academic development.

The first week of programming focused on navigating uncertainty. Through faculty-led discussions and guided exercises, students examined what they could control during an unpredictable period, identified strategies for staying connected, and explored how to frame their shutdown experience as evidence of resilience in future professional conversations. The first session encouraged students to create structured weekly schedules that balanced personal development, academic engagement, and policy exploration.

In the second and third weeks, programming shifted to policy analysis. With the support of Dr. Derek O’Leary, the Archer Center’s academic director, and faculty, students began examining policy issues of personal interest, sharpening their research skills, and producing written analyses. Fellows received feedback on their analyses from experts, including:

- Max Richards, legislative director for the Office of U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (MO), Archer Fellow alumnus (Fall 2015), and Archer Center Advisory Board member

- Don Carlson, Archer Center co-founder and former chief of staff to U.S. Representative Bill Archer (retired)

​- Lisa Hone, former chief Democratic counsel for the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee

As the shutdown continued, Archer Center faculty and staff encouraged students to explore internship shadowing and volunteer opportunities elsewhere in Washington. Staff offered additional support through professional development workshops, office hours, and goal-setting guidance. Additionally, alumni and expert coffee chats provided opportunities for networking and mentorship.

“We wanted students to continue building relationships, developing skills, and finding purpose each day,” said Lawrence.

The shutdown also led to the creation of a student-led Substack project, Archer’s Arrows, where Archer Fellows reflected on their experiences as furloughed interns. The student team behind the digital publication hopes Archer’s Arrows will continue beyond the fall semester and serve as a platform for future Archer Fellows with a love for writing to showcase their policy interests, personal experiences, and visual storytelling during their semester in Washington.
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“During D.C. Orientation, we referenced the philosopher and educational theorist John Dewey, who is often paraphrased as saying, ‘We don't learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience.’ The Archer Fellows could have seen the government shutdown and suspension of their internships as a loss of both experience and the chance to learn from it,” said O’Leary. “What regularly impressed me during those tough weeks was their eagerness to reframe the situation as an opportunity, not just to access a wide range of experiences at the Archer Center and across the city, but to actively reflect on these experiences in a way that enriched their academic and career development.”​

Panelists Don Carlson, Max Richards, and Lisa Hone shared their expertise with the Fall 2025 Archer Fellows as part of the Experienced Policy Practitioner Panel.

Members of the Fall 2025 Archer Fellow cohort gathered for an informal networking coffee and conversation focused on careers in public health.

Homepage of Archer's Arrows, a student-led digital publication.