Roberto Ferrer represented Florida Sea Grant at the Tallahassee Internship Program and currently serves as FSG’s Government Relations Liaison.
Florida Rep. Ben Diamond and Roberto Ferrer in the Capitol.
My involvement with the Florida Sea Grant (FSG) began during my internship with the House of Representatives. During the 2022 Florida Legislative Session, the Florida Sea Grant and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service sponsored my internship with State Representative Ben Diamond. Prior to this opportunity, I had always thought of politics as being too divisive. As such, I was never interested in applying to the Tallahassee Internship Program (TIP) or the Washington Internship Program (WIP).
Growing up near the Indian River Lagoon, I have always been passionate about marine environments. So, when my advisor informed me Florida Sea Grant was sponsoring two students to be part of TIP, I decided to apply. Prior to Spring 2022, I had not studied civic literacy since the seventh grade. This made my first few weeks a big game of catch-up. However, Rep. Diamond and my Legislative Aid (LA) Maximo Ulloa, were very patient and trusted in my potential. This paid off. In addition to performing administrative tasks for the office, I was given the opportunity to lead meetings, and constituent tours, write speeches, and assist other Representatives when needed.
While in Tallahassee, I received a behind-the-scenes perspective of the legislative process. I learned that politics is not always as black and white as it is made out to be in the media. Much of what is passed is bipartisan. The intricacies of environmental issues became apparent during my time in Tallahassee. Things like energy, zoning regulations, local government capacity, and indigenous rights all play a role in environmental policies. I look back on my time in Tallahassee very fondly. I will never forget the experiences I had and the people I connected with.
My goal here is to strengthen FSG’s relationships with lawmakers at both the federal and state level. These partnerships will allow the Florida Sea Grant to expand their role in marine and coastal issues in the state.
Roberto Ferrer in front of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
After debriefing with Florida Sea Grant leadership, I was offered the opportunity to move to Washington D.C. earlier this year to represent FSG in UF’s Office of Federal Relations. FSG historically conducts annual Hill visits to strengthen relationships with Florida’s Congressional delegation and network with other Sea Grant/NOAA personnel. My main objective was to plan and facilitate these meetings. However, I also attended hearings and tracked any legislation relevant to FSG. Although not formally part of WIP, I was able to interact with the WIP interns and attend one of their guest speaker events. Working alongside UF’s D.C. lobbyists, Sarah Mathias and Alex Krigstein, was truly eye-opening. I will always be grateful for their leadership and patience.
I am currently operating out of the Florida Sea Grant’s headquarters in Gainesville, FL. As the first long-term government relations intern at FSG, I am very excited to explore all the ways that I can help. With the 2023 Florida Legislative Session well underway, I am tracking any legislation of interest to FSG. My goal here is to strengthen FSG’s relationships with lawmakers at both the federal and state level. These partnerships will allow the Florida Sea Grant to expand their role in marine and coastal issues in the state. Given the notable impacts FSG has had on Florida’s environment and state economy, Floridians can only stand to benefit from these partnerships. I like to think of FSG as Florida’s best-kept secret. I want to remedy that by making sure more Floridians not only know about us but are also able to take advantage of our research, extension, and programming.
Something true of both TIP and WIP is the bonds you develop with fellow interns. These programs provide opportunities for students to connect with others from all walks of life. My background is in criminology, Latin American Studies, and Portuguese, so I provided a much different perspective to these programs. I would highly encourage anyone to apply. Even if you think politics has nothing to do with your interests, I promise you will find some common ground. Love it or hate it, politics touches every facet of our lives, so it is crucial that we know how it works and participate in the process.
