Saint Peter High School

Norah Timmerman, a 2023 graduate of Saint Peter High School, has an amazing opportunity this semester as part of her college studies. Timmerman, a secondary education and history major at Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wis.), is in the midst of a semester-long internship with Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office in Washington, D.C.

Saint Peter Middle School social studies teacher Dustin Sharstrom, who was in D.C. with his fellow St. Peter City Council member Ben Ranft, met up with Timmerman this past month at Sen. Klobuchar’s office. Former SPMS teacher Eric Boe was also a recent visitor to her office and had a chance to catch up with his former student. 

We recently had a chance to catch up with Norah via email and she was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to respond to a few questions! The following is a Q&A profile of SPHS alum Norah Timmerman:

What year are you at Marquette and what is your major? – I am currently a sophomore at Marquette, and I am a Secondary Education and History double major. 

How did this internship opportunity come up? – This internship is part of a study away program offered by Marquette called the Les Aspin program. Aspin was a Congressman from Wisconsin from the early 70s to the early 90s, when he became President Clinton's Secretary of Defense. The Les Aspin Center hosts a cohort of Marquette students every semester in an apartment building about a block away and we take classes at the LAC on Thursdays and Fridays. The program is focused on professional development as well as academic, so a DC internship is a requirement. We receive some support from the LAC but for the most part are responsible for securing our own position, and we intern all day Monday-Wednesday.

What is the duration/length of the internship? – I started the day after the inauguration, January 21st, and my last day is April 30th. It's a semester-long internship.

What have you enjoyed most about working in Senator Klobuchar's office? – Getting to know her staff and especially the other interns that I work with (we have a much larger number than a lot of other offices, 11 total). We all have such a diverse range of backgrounds and hopes and dreams, and I'm excited for all of us to support each other as we start our careers. I also really enjoy meeting constituents who come through the office to meet with the Senator and her staff. It gives me a connection to home even though I'm halfway across the country.

What do you enjoy most about being in D.C.? – Being a part of the Senate staff. I have access to parts of the Capitol and the office buildings that I have never had access to before and never will again. I'm also enjoying having an extended period of time here to explore museums and tourist sites (and I'm very much looking forward to cherry blossom season).

What have been the biggest challenges about the internship? – It is really just the political climate we are working in and the administration we are working under. Working for a Democratic senator when Democrats don't have the White House and are in the minority in both the House and the Senate means our office tends to be on defense rather than offense. The sheer amount of executive actions coming from the White House can also make the workload overwhelming for our staff and interns.

Do you foresee yourself working in D.C. in the future? – I would love to work in DC in the future, whether or not that's on the Hill again I'm not sure. But living in the city has confirmed for me that I would love to live and work here later in life.

What are your future plans after getting your undergraduate degree? – After I graduate, I plan to teach in a public school before transitioning into either educational research or education policy. I would like to get a Master's in Public Policy, hopefully at a school in DC, and focus on ed policy. It is really important to me, however, that I get experience in the classroom before I work on policy impacting students and educators. 


Norah Timmerman (middle) recently met with St. Peter City Council members Ben Ranft (left) and Dustin Sharstrom (right). Mr. Sharstrom was a former teacher of Norah's at Saint Peter Middle School.

Norah Timmerman (right) was recently visited in Washington D.C. by former SPMS social studies teacher Erick Boe.