Centre College's Ali Epperson interns for Sen. Tom Harkin

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Alison Epperson met Vice President Joe Biden during the 2012 Vice Presidential debate at Centre College and is now interning in Iowa senator Tom Harkin's Washington, D.C., office.

DANVILLE, KY (07/24/2013)(readMedia)-- Ali Epperson of Indianola, a rising junior at Centre College, is interning this summer for Senator Tom Harkin's (D-IA) Washington, D.C., disability office.

As a member of the Centre College Democrats, Epperson was very involved in the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate at Centre, where she was interviewed by CSPAN, worked with Vice President Joe Biden's team in Spin Alley and organized and participated in the Vice President's motorcade to Danville.

Epperson sees the internship with Senator Tom Harkin's office as a valuable addition to the wealth of political experience she has been gaining throughout her Centre career.

"I've discovered that experience is one of the biggest advantages people can possess when starting a career in politics," she says. "One of the best ways to gain experience is through interning; Senator Harkin himself began his political career as an intern with a member of Congress."

Epperson's internship includes a mixture of administrative and legislative duties. She runs office errands as well as attends hearings, drafts memos and researches information for current projects and legislation.

For Epperson, interning with Harkin's office was a perfect fit on several levels.

"I chose to pursue an internship with Senator Harkin not only because I'm from Iowa, but also because of his work on agriculture, education and other significant issues facing the United States," she explains. "After interning in Senator Harkin's office this summer, I will have gained more of the knowledge, skills and passion required to further my eventual career in U.S and international politics."

Centre College, founded in 1819, is a nationally ranked liberal arts college in Danville, Ky. Centre hosted its second Vice Presidential Debate on 10.11.12, and remains the smallest college in the smallest town ever to host a general election debate.