Catalina Grieco – a second-year student majoring in political science with a minor in communications and a certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security – was selected for a highly competitive federal lobbying internship with TikTok in Washington, D.C., becoming the first Florida State University student to hold this position
Grieco currently interns with The Southern Group, a lobbying firm in Tallahassee, and has already completed six congressional internships in both district offices and on Capitol Hill. She is also a member of the 2025–2026 Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program and a 2026 Social Science Scholar. The TikTok internship is highly selective, with hundreds of applicants competing for just three positions.
“I chose FSU because of its world-class political science program and professional development opportunities,” Grieco said. “I am a sophomore, yet I have six congressional internships, one with a member of the Florida House of Representatives, one with a top lobbying firm, and my upcoming internship at TikTok. Without the support of FSU, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
On campus, Grieco is actively involved in leadership and service. She serves as sophomore class treasurer and a COSSPP senator, and she is the campus safety coordinator within the Student Government Association Executive Branch. She is also the director of communications for Political Review, the largest nonpartisan political publication in Florida, and participates in Honors Legal Scholars, the APPLE program, Social Science Scholars, Phi Mu and the Freshman Leadership Institute, where she serves as a facilitator of mentors.
As a 2025 Global Scholar, she conducted research on internship accessibility to better understand the barriers students face when pursuing opportunities and presented her findings at the Undergraduate Political Science Research Symposium.
When asked about her most impactful experience at Florida State, Grieco highlighted being selected as one of five students chosen to represent the university at the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Leadership Symposium at Virginia Tech. “The legislative internship program and APPLE program provided me education and funding that have allowed me to intern full time while still prioritizing my education,” she said.
Through her coursework and experiences, Grieco has developed a strong interest in public policy and advocacy. Working with local government through the APPLE program on a civic action plan focused on flood awareness and emergency management education helped shape these interests.
After graduation, Grieco plans to pursue a career in emergency management, attend law school and ultimately work in lobbying.
For more information about FSU’s Department of Political Science, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/polisci.