(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – The U.S Department of State is now accepting applications for upcoming internships in numerous different career fields. The Department offers paid and unpaid internships to college students both domestic and abroad. Students have an opportunity to confront international issues, solve complex problems and serve as global ambassadors on behalf of America. The State Department is the lead foreign affairs agency and is responsible for shaping a more secure and prosperous world through the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. Representing over 265 posts abroad, the Department is seeking young and talented leadership to help represent the interests of America in a significant way.

Due to a more competitive job market and tough economic times, more students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities have found stability in pursuing internships and careers with the Department of State. Demetryus Smith, 21, is a senior communications student at Fort Valley State University who recently interned at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa. “Interning in South Africa exposed me to both a diverse and professional atmosphere and stimulated my desire to be an agent for change through a global platform,” said Smith. Smith is one of many HBCU students who have taken advantage of State Department internships and would encourage others to apply.

The internship program allows students to work at embassies, consulates and numerous posts in Washington, D.C. Dallas Gibson, 22, a senior philosophy student at FAMU, had the opportunity to work in D.C. in the Bureau of International Narcotics and the Office of Budget Resource Management. “As a student from an HBCU, the internship gave me the confidence that I could compete with the best and brightest in the country,” said Gibson.

For some students, the opportunity to engage in foreign travel while in college is invigorating. For Kinesha O’Neil, 20, a junior finance student from Detroit, traveling abroad to help others is a lifelong dream. “I’m applying for a summer 2011 internship in China to gain experience in diverse societies and cultures. I look forward to interacting with the people and using my expertise to have a profound impact on the community where I am assigned,” said O’Neil. The State Department is looking for more excited students who understand the value of international public service.

Dr. Lady Dhyana Ziegler, a public member of the Foreign Service and a professor in the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, believes that a career with the State Department offers students priceless benefits and an international opportunity that is matchless. “As a global leader, the opportunity to help people and serve your country is the epitome of success,” says Ziegler.

The State Department promises a valuable work experience that college students can apply to virtually every endeavor — whether working in government or in the private sector. Most of all, students will feel good about doing something worthwhile for the nation. According to Joseph Jones, Interim Director of FAMU Office of International Education, “College students must obtain international work experience in order to effectively confront the global challenges of today.” For more information, students can visit http://careers.state.gov/students/.