By Nathan Palomares

The World Affairs Council of Orange County’s internship program is, in many ways, the backbone of the organization and its mission. Students and young professionals alike have the opportunity to conduct impactful research and work in an environment in international affairs and global politics, all the while having access to thrilling events and networking opportunities with experts and speakers.

Interns who have completed their internship at WACOC have gone on to prestigious opportunities and traveled to places they could not have imagined before interning for the council.

Here is a spotlight on two spectacular former interns in WACOC’s new “Where Are They Now?” series, in which we interview them about what they have accomplished since leaving the council and how our internship program can lay the foundation for future professional development.

Maelee Blancaflor, 27

Maelee Blancaflor interned at the WACOC from 2018 to 2019 as a public affairs/communication intern. She is currently employed as an immigration paralegal at Fragomen, one of the largest immigration law firms in the nation. Her main focus is working with students and exchange visitors.

“It’s kind of what I’ve wanted to do from the get-go,” Blancaflor said. “I wanted to work in international exchange in some way or form.”

After her internship with the council, Blancaflor went to work with the World Trade Center in Northern California with their international visitor leadership program. She then used her accumulated experience to intern at the State Department in the federal government through the Virtual Student Federal Service Internship. She continued her work in research and cultural exchange until she decided to begin her master’s program in public diplomacy at the University of Southern California (USC), from which she graduated in 2025.

Blancaflor had many great memories and experiences during her time at WACOC, including an unforgettable event that hosted Gaddi Vasquez, a former U.S. ambassador to the UN Food Program and former director of the Peace Corps.

“That was my first time meeting someone of authority in that sense,” Blancaflor said. “It was very nerve-wracking talking to someone of that caliber, but it was an amazing experience.”

Blancaflor’s experiences at WAC-OC, such as this one, would help shape her life goals and equip her with the skills necessary to launch her career. She expressed that the internship program at WAC-OC gave her the flexibility to delve into other areas of work that may not have been officially part of her internship description. However, she was still granted the opportunity to try, and in the end, it helped her the most.

“Everyone was very nice, and it was a great first experience that definitely solidified the work I wanted to do in international affairs,” Blancflor said.

Some advice Blancflor offers to students and young professionals reflects her own time as a student frantically trying to secure an internship.

“Truthfully, it’s difficult out there,” Blancflor said. “However, you’re already doing the right thing by getting this internship experience now, but you can have a specific plan set for yourself, and always be open to having a plan B, plan C, plan D.”

For Blancflor, her time at the WAC-OC has prompted her to reflect on the pressures young professionals face in today’s job market.

“As a young professional, we put so much pressure on ourselves to get the dream internship or the dream job, like it needs to be a perfect ladder to reach whatever you want,” Blancflor said. “Truthfully, you’re still going to be doing that until you’re 40, so be satisfied with where you are and your trajectory, but not too worried about where you need to be at the moment.”

Ryan Takeji Adams, 23

Ryan Adams interned at the WAC-OC from 2024 to 2025 as an area operations and HR intern. He is currently working at the national World Affairs Council of America as a marketing and communications coordinator. Much of his work involves crafting national newsletters and strengthening support for and representation of the various councils across the country.

Ryan has recently moved to Washington, D.C., and is pursuing a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University. The opportunity to move to D.C. has enabled him to intern with U.S. Representative Derek Tran and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Furthermore, Ryan served as a public affairs intern at Cornerstone Government Affairs and a communications intern at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

Much of what Ryan has gone on to accomplish, he believes, can be attributed to the experience and skills he gained during his time at the WAC-OC.

“A huge thank you really goes out to Jayne (President and CEO of WAC-OC); she is such an inspiring person and so motivational,” Adams said. “I think seeing her leadership in the council motivated me to do well as an intern.”

For Ryan, the best part of the internship experience was the events that the council holds. 

“Gaining exposure to a lot of the events and being in that community and having access to some of our board members who are very accomplished individuals inspired me to pursue a career in international relations or global affairs,” Adams said. 

Adams goes on to explain that one of the main reasons for going into a master’s program at Georgetown was his experience with WAC-OC.

“I don’t think without that experience I’d be here in D.C. or pursuing a master’s,” Ryan said.

That experience interning at WACOC has given Ryan advice he wishes to share with students and young professionals entering our current job market.

“You know, it is a very competitive job market now more than ever,” Adams said. “My advice is always to start as early as you can, be willing to take some of those unpaid internships, and it is difficult, and I know not everyone can do it, but I think if you’re willing and able to make that sacrifice, it’ll push your career much further.”