What began as a single student internship in 1984 has developed into a permanent Marquette University presence in Washington, D.C. The Aspin Center is now a nationally recognized educational program making real contributions to our nation's political process.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare young people to serve the public effectively and ethically and to provide opportunities to enhance public policy awareness through educational programs. In terms of international arena, the Center also promotes mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international exchanges.

Opportunities to Serve

Our programs have consistently provided a solid foundation for our graduates to seek careers in public service, especially on Capitol Hill. Since 1984, the Les Aspin Center has educated more than 1600 students who have interned in nearly 100 congressional offices, the State Department, the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Secret Service, The White House, Department of Defense,The Federal Communications Commission, Wisconsin Office of Federal-State Relations, as well as offices for Wisconsin-based corporations.

At any given time, there are approximately 50 Les Aspin Center alumni working as professional staff members in the U.S. Congress. Alumni also have tremendous opportunities to work at other levels of government throughout the country, including campaigning for elected office.

In addition, in 2004 a local initiative was started on the Marquette campus in Milwaukee. The Kleczka internship program places students in city, county, and state legislative offices. Like the successful academic model of the Les Aspin Center, The Kleczka internship combines hands-on-internship experiences with classroom instruction to maximize the learning opportunity.

Helping, Serving and Leading the World

Internationally, the Les Aspin Center for Government has trained and educated over 300 leaders from Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali, and Nigeria since 1995, including members of Parliament, cabinet officials, nongovernmental organization executives, and others. The Center has also worked with African graduates to host Marquette students enrolled in study abroad programs in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana.

Take the Next Step

We're committed to instilling in our students the values of leadership, service, and academic excellence. Our mission is not simply to educate, but to prepare individuals for lives dedicated to the betterment of others. If you share our philosophy, we encourage you to download an application today and apply for study.