1. [MCSPADDEN PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUND INTERN PROFILE]
Richard D'Amato 13 is an economics major and a dual minor
in public policy and international studies. On campus, he is a
member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Habitat for Humanity, Mock
Trial Society, and ASPIRE, and works for the Dartmouth
College Development Office's GreenCorps Team and the
Rockefeller Center Policy Research Shop. During his leave
terms, he has interned at Project On Government Oversight
and the President's Council On Jobs and Competitiveness at
the U.S. Treasury Department, and participated in a study
abroad program in Barcelona, Spain.
Rick was funded by The Rockefeller Center for a Winter 2012
Internship, with generous support from the McSpadden Public
Affairs Internship Fund.
Executive Summary from Richard’s final report:
The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness is a federal advisory committee made up
of private-sector leaders from the business, labor, and academic sectors, convened by President
Barack Obama to provide the administration with recommendations on how to create jobs and
boost America’s economic competitiveness, both in the short and long terms. In addition to
issuing reports with these recommendations, the Council is responsible for spearheading
private-sector initiatives to address these recommendations in areas such as workforce
development, access to capital for startups and small businesses, and education reform.
As an intern, I performed a variety of tasks for
“Through my experience, I gained a more the Jobs Council, including memo writing,
intimate understanding of the specific
blog writing, logistics and coordination for
challenges our country faces on the road to
public events, preparing briefing materials,
economic recovery. I plan to focus my and background research on individuals,
academic and career goals to continue to
companies, or policies. I also worked with the
learn about these issues, and use what I
White House Business Council on their small
learned at the Jobs Council to find a career
business outreach and engagement initiative,
in which I can truly make a difference in
in which I attended meetings with high-level
addressing the most important obstacles.” administration officials and small business

2. leaders from across the country, helped coordinate logistics and prepare briefings for the
meetings, and wrote follow-up notes and blog posts. Through my experience, I gained a more
intimate understanding of the specific challenges our country faces on the road to economic
recovery. I plan to focus my academic and career goals to continue to learn about these issues,
and use what I learned at the Jobs Council to find a career in which I can truly make a difference
in addressing the most important obstacles.
Richard D’Amato at his internship at the President’s Council on Jobs and
Competitiveness in Washington, D.C.